PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Rare earths miner Lynas has reported record sales volumes for the quarter ended December, generating revenues of A$79.9-million from the sale of 5 522 t of rare earth oxide.
Rare earth oxide production for the quarter was down to 4 422 t, from the 5 220 t produced in the September quarter, as final upgrades to the A$35-million NEXT project were completed, along with a temporary production halt in December.
Neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) production during the quarter to December reached over 600 t in October, for the second consecutive month, which CEO and MD Amanda Lacaze said confirmed the company’s ability to sustainably produce at this rate.
“November and December production were affected by the final commissioning of our Nd and Pr separation process which entailed the shutdown of one of the production trains and the hold-up of material in the new separation stages,” Lacaze said.
Production was also temporarily halted in December as Lynas reached its annual approved limit for processing lanthanide concentrate. The combined effect was a reduction in NdPr by over 400 t.
“Our team used this time to complete a number of Lynas NEXT upgrades and other works that we are unable to undertake while the plant is operating. Production recommenced at the start of January,” Lacaze added.