Rare earths miner Lynas Corp (ASX: LYC)聽 from Malaysia to one of two preferred sites in Western Australia, where its Mt Weld mine is located.
The company, the world鈥檚 only major producer of rare earths outside China, said the A$500 million-plan ($346 million) aims to boost production, and fend off .
鈥淥ur plan is to invest in upstream processing close to our source (Mt Weld), with downstream processing (in Malaysia) close to our customers,鈥� chief executive Amanda Lacaze told investors.
鈥淭his is a sound strategy. It is a sound strategy independent of any other external pressures, but in executing this strategy, which includes the relocation of cracking and leaching from Malaysia, we will also satisfy the Malaysian Government requirements,鈥� she said.
The company鈥檚 plan is to invest in upstream processing near its Mt Weld mine, with downstream processing (in Malaysia) close to its customers
Moving its cracking and leaching operations from Malaysia to close to Mt Weld or to Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia, is also expected to help the company ramp up its production to 10.5kt of Neodymium and Praseodymium (NdPr) oxide a year in order to meet and profit from the expected demand growth.
Lynas鈥� Malaysian operating licence is up for renewal in September, but聽 by the Southeast Asian country to the miner triggered worries about potentially losing its licence to operate.
The Malaysian Government has hinted that the permit renewal is conditional on the radioactive residue being removed from the Mt Weld concentrate before it is shipped to Malaysia.
The company鈥檚 six-year-old facility in the country 鈥� known as the Lynas Advance Material Plant (LAMP) 鈥� has been the cause of ongoing tension between Kuala Lumpur and the Sydney-based miner.
LAMP was the centre of relentless attacks from environmental groups and local residents while under construction in 2012. They feared about the聽impact the low-level radioactive waste the refinery generates could have聽on the health of those living nearby, and to the environment.
Scrutiny escalated last year, with Kuala Lumpur setting a committee to review Lynas鈥� operations. Lacaze聽聽of a couple of committee members, as both are known for being long time opponents of having the refinery located in Malaysia.
In December, the country聽聽stockpiled at its processing plant by Sept. 2., when the company鈥檚 licence is up for renewal.
Lynas revealed聽earlier this year that聽聽with such demand by the given deadline.
Until now, Lynas has mined for rare earths in聽Western Australia and processed them in Malaysia. It produces neodymium and praseodymium, key ingredients in permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, energy efficient consumer devices and in the aerospace and defence industries.