Australian rare earths producer Hastings Technology Metals Ltd says that it has received environmental approval to build a hydrometallurgical plant at its Yangibana mine in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
The plant will carry out hydrometallurgical processing of rare earths oxide concentrate from Yangibana into mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) containing high levels of neodymium and praseodymium concentrate (Dnepr).
According to the company, these materials can be used to make permanent magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and digital devices.
Construction of the hydrometallurgical plant is due to begin in 2022, and its full production rate will be 15,000 tonnes of MREC per annum, according to Hastings Technology Metals executive chairman Charles Lew.
This story uses material from Hastings, with editorial changes made by Materials Today.
