The definitive agreement comes almost three years after the incident, which killed 19 people and became the country’s worst ever environmental disaster.
The newly-elected coalition government is said to be ready to launch a three-month evaluation of Lynas' rare earths processing plant, which may end with authorities denying the company’s operating license renewal in Sep. 2019.
The company said the investment would enable it to sustain production of its Pilbara Blend brand of iron ore and its Robe Valley lump and fines products.
The state miner warned it would "assert its rights" in Barrick Gold's acquisition of Rangold's stake in the Kibali mine, but did not provide details of its plans.
The planned campus would include about 170,000 square feet of office space, a 20,000-square-foot museum and training building, and 410,000 square feet of manufacturing space