Lynas signs updated contract with US govt for Texas facility

Lynas Rare Earths said on Tuesday it had signed an updated contract with the US Department of Defense for the construction of the heavy rare-earths component of its rare-earths processing facility in Texas.

Under the contract, a contribution of about $258 million by the US government is currently allocated to the project, higher than the $120 million contribution announced last year, Lynas said.

Lynas, the world’s largest producer of rare-earths outside of China, said the updated contract follows detailed design work and cost updates for the project.

Lynas’ Texas facility will serve both the DoD and commercial customers, and is targeted to be operational in the financial year 2026.

Feedstock for the facility will be sourced from the company’s Mt Weld deposit and Kalgoorlie facility in Western Australia, the miner added.

(By Himanshi Akhand; Editing by Maju Samuel and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)