Lynas Rare Earths Expands Malaysia Rare Earths Plant

Australian mining giant Lynas Rare Earths has expanded its rare earths processing plant in Gebeng, Malaysia, making it the world's largest single facility. This expansion aims to increase Lynas Rare Earths's market share from 10% and challenge China's 90% dominance in the global rare earths market, which are crucial for products like smartphones, electric cars, and fighter jets. The Government of Malaysia has renewed Lynas Rare Earths's operating license for another 10 years, with a condition that the company halts activities producing radioactive waste within five years, addressing concerns raised by environmental groups like Greenpeace. Lynas Rare Earths's CEO, Amanda Lacaze, and COO, Pol Le Roux, are focused on boosting downstream capacity and diversifying into rare earths as catalysts. This development is seen as a significant step in the global pushback against China's control over critical minerals, especially in the context of the trade war between the United States and China.