Lynas Rare Earths seeks US aid for Texas refinery as costs surge
Australia’s Lynas Rare Earths is in talks with the Trump administration to counter rising costs for the refinery it is building in Texas, while at the same time warning that the president’s tariff agenda could threaten the project.
While pre-construction activities are underway, additional expenses are needed to mitigate wastewater challenges, Lynas said in a statement Monday. The company — backed by Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart — is in discussions with the US government about the issue, it added.
Perth-based Lynas is the largest supplier outside China of rare earths, used in everything from smartphones to defence applications. The Asian nation’s dominance of the industry has caused angst in the US, which is seeking to bolster alternative supply chains. In response to punitive tariffs imposed by Washington, Beijing has added seven rare earths to its export control list.
“We are also reviewing the potential cost implications for the US project as a consequence of recent announcements on global tariffs,” Lynas said.
Lynas produces so-called ‘light’ rare earths, which are used in magnets for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines and munitions. It’s set to enter the ‘heavy’ industry with new refining capacity both in the US and in Malaysia, where it has an existing site that from later this year will start processing many of the metals restricted by Chinese export controls.
Lynas currently sources ore for its refineries from its Mt Weld mine near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, according to its website. It will send ore from there to the Texas facility once it is operational.
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