Tag Archives: Lynas Rare Earths

Zenith Energy to help Lynas move to gas-firmed hybrid renewable power station at Mt Weld

Energy minerals, Environmental, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Zenith Energy says it has signed contracts with Lynas Rare Earths Ltd to design, build, own, operate and maintain a hybrid power station at Lynas’ Mt Weld mine, 35 km southeast of Laverton, Western Australia.

The Mt Weld hybrid power station will include a 24 MW Wind Farm, 7 MW solar PV farm and a 12 MW/12 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). This renewable facility will be supported by a 17 MW high efficiency gas fired power station, with 5 MW of standby diesel generation, Zenith explained. The total installed capacity of the Mt Weld Power Station upon completion will be approximately 65 MW.

The term of the PPA is 15 years, commencing from commercial operation of the wind farm, which is scheduled to occur in 2026. The diesel and gas facilities are scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2025, with solar and BESS to be installed progressively, and full operation expected in 2026.

The Mt Weld hybrid power station has been designed to run “engine-off” during periods of high renewable energy production and achieve an average annual renewable energy percentage of up to approximately 70%.

Zenith calls itself a leading independent power provider at the forefront of the transition to renewable energy in the mining sector. It is currently contracted to operate 15 separate remote generation power facilities, with a capacity of more than 650 MW across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Zenith has already commenced early construction works at the Mt Weld site, having entered into Preliminary and Early Works Agreements with Lynas in 2023.

Zenith CEO and Managing Director, Hamish Moffat, said: “As a leading provider of sustainable energy solutions to the Australian resources market, Zenith is pleased to be working with Lynas, the world’s only significant producer of separated rare earth materials outside of China, on the high renewable energy fraction hybrid power solution to their Mt Weld operations. The signing of the Mt Weld hybrid power station PPA represents a significant milestone for Zenith Energy, with our contracted wind capacity now exceeding 100 MW. Zenith look forward to enabling Lynas to deliver on their productivity and decarbonisation objectives.”.

Lynas CEO and Managing Director, Amanda Lacaze, added: “Lynas produces materials used in the manufacture of 21st Century technologies and we look forward to working with Zenith Energy as it delivers a 21st Century power solution for Mt Weld. As part of our commitment to reducing GHG emissions and progressively transitioning to cleaner energy sources, the existing Mt Weld diesel power plant will be decommissioned as soon as the thermal (gas) power station is completed. Moving away from the legacy diesel power plant to a gas-firmed hybrid renewable power station is a significant step in our GHG emissions reduction plan. Pleasingly, our commitment to renewable energy sources also offers a lower unit cost of power compared to a thermal-only power solution.”

Lynas Rare Earths to switch to continuous mining mode at Mt Weld with help of Carey Group

Energy minerals, Mine operation news, Mining services, , , , , , ,

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd has awarded Western Australia-based company Carey Group Holdings a five-year contract for mining services at Lynas’ Mt Weld rare earths mine near Laverton.

The contract will draw on Carey’s nearly 30 years of experience as an open-pit mining contractor and leading 100% First Nations-owned business, including as a service provider to neighbouring mines near Laverton.

Carey will commence on site at the high-grade Mt Weld mine in April 2024. On commencement of the contract, Lynas will transition from campaign mining to continuous mining over the five-year period to supply ores to the expanded Mt Weld process plant.

Under the contract, Carey will mobilise a mining fleet comprising production drilling, excavation, hauling and auxiliary equipment. Carey will provide new haul trucks as part of the contract, with a focus on technologies designed to improve efficiency, productivity and precision for extracting ores, Lynas says.

A signing ceremony for the contract with Carey was held in Perth today and Amanda Lacaze, CEO & Managing Director, Lynas Rare Earths (pictured on the left), said: “Lynas is delighted to award the Mt Weld mining contract to Carey. Carey has almost 30 years of experience working with open-pit mine environments and is a leading contractor in its field. Significantly for Lynas, Carey’s founder and Managing Director, Daniel Tucker AM, grew up in the Laverton area. Daniel and his team have a strong connection to country and this is evident in their approach to sustainability and to providing opportunities for First Nations people to build and develop skills and expertise.

“We share Carey’s values and commitment to providing career opportunities and skills development for First Nations people. We look forward to working with Carey as we continue to enhance our operations, safety and sustainability through this contract.”

Tucker (pictured on the right) said: “We are immensely pleased for the opportunity to work with a global leader such as Lynas, and grateful to receive this contract award which continues to build on our history of the delivery of contract mining services in the Goldfields.

“As a leader of First Nations business in Australia, this long-term contract will allow us to deliver value for Lynas, Carey, other First Nations businesses and local supply chain partners. I look forward to a successful
partnership with Lynas.”

Monadelphous banks work with Lynas Rare Earths, Fortescue, BHP and Rio Tinto

Base metals, Energy minerals, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , ,

Monadelphous Group says it has secured new construction and maintenance contracts and contract extensions in the resources and energy sectors totalling approximately A$170 million ($108 million), including pacts with Fortescue, BHP and Rio Tinto.

First up, the company has been awarded a construction contract with Lynas Rare Earths for stage 1 of the Mt Weld Expansion project (pictured), near Laverton in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. The scope includes structural, mechanical and piping works associated with the new concentration facility.

The engineering firm has also secured a multidisciplinary construction contract to undertake a series of upgrades at Fortescue’s Anderson Point iron ore stockyard in Port Hedland, Western Australia.

BHP has, meanwhile, extended Monadelphous’ master services agreement for the provision of general maintenance services to its iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia through to June 30, 2025. The award also contains an additional one-year extension option. The company has also secured a one-year extension to its mechanical and electrical maintenance, shutdown and project services contract across BHP’s Nickel West operations in Western Australia.

Finally, Monadelphous has secured a one-year extension to its sustaining capital works master services agreement with Rio Tinto providing multidisciplinary project services across its Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia.

NRW Holdings companies win work from Wonbindi Coal, Lynas Rare Earths, Rio Tinto

Environmental, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, , , , , , , , , ,

NRW Holdings Limited companies Golding Contractors and DIAB Engineering have banked some significant contracts in the mining space, the biggest of which is a Mining Service Agreement with Wonbindi Coal Pty Ltd at the Baralaba North Mine in Queensland.

The Baralaba North award is valued at around A$800 million ($546 million) and continues the strong relationship between Golding and Wonbindi where Golding has provided the contract mining services at the Baralaba North Mine over the last four years.

The scope of work remains the same and includes maintaining and operating a client-owned fleet of equipment, producing an ultra-low volatile pulverised coal injection product. The pact commenced on July 1 and follows on from a Binding Letter of Intent the two companies signed earlier in the year.

DIAB Engineering, meanwhile, has been awarded two contracts with a value of circa-A$78 million.

At the Lynas Rare Earths Processing Facility in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, DIAB has been awarded a contract for a key component of the facility, being the construction of the Filter Building used to process and further concentrate the rare earth. The works to be performed include the supply, fabrication and erection of the Filter Building, the installation of associated equipment and piping, and electrical and instrumentation installation.

DIAB will carry out all the circa-1,500 tonne fabrication works for the Filter Building at its facilities in Geraldton using around 80 local Midwest team members. A construction workforce of 60-80 will then be mobilised to site progressively over the coming months.

Lynas Kalgoorlie Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lynas Rare Earths, is the only scale producer of separated rare earths outside of China. It mines and processes rare earth ore at Mt Weld, in the north-eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. Lynas’ new processing facility in Kalgoorlie will treat rare earth concentrate from Mt Weld to produce a rare earth carbonate.

At Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Tom Price mine in Western Australia, DIAB Engineering, has secured the supply, fabrication and installation of multiple dust suppression systems to be utilised on the Tom Price and Western Turner crusher and conveyor systems. These systems will assist in improved control and suppression of dust generated from processing activities, reducing the impacts on personnel and plant operations, it says. The project will run for approximately 12 months, employing 60 people at its peak.

Alltype Engineering to help bring Lynas’ Kalgoorlie rare earths processing plant to life

Energy minerals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining services, , , , , ,

WestStar Industrial’s engineering construction contracting business, Alltype Engineering, has been awarded a rotary kiln erection contract valued at circa-A$12 million ($8.8 million) by Lynas Kalgoorlie Pty Ltd in Western Australia.

This contract, in addition to bolstering the WestStar 2022 financial year order, aligns with Alltype Engineering’s strategic plan to focus and deliver on major turnkey construction projects and provide a differentiated vertical service offering incorporating fabrication, SMP and E&I construction works.

Lynas’ new rare earths processing facility in Kalgoorlie will treat rare earth concentrate from its Mt Weld mine to produce rare earth carbonate, which will be packaged and transported to Fremantle Port for export to the Lynas Malaysia advanced materials plant in Gebeng, Malaysia, for further processing.

The scope awarded to Alltype Engineering encompasses the following:

  • Erection of a six-meter diameter by 110 m long, four pier kiln and all structural and mechanical drive ancillaries;
  • Erection of discharge hood;
  • Fabrication and installation of discharge end building;
  • Fabrication and installation of dust chute from discharge end seal;
  • Erection of burner management system and all ancillaries;
  • Fabrication and installation of primary leach overflow rubber lined hopper;
  • Installation of pumps, agitators, heat exchanger and all service piping; and
  • Installation of all electrical and instrumentation works including cabling, infrastructure and instruments.

Alltype Engineering, WestStar says, has a commitment to becoming a market leader in rotating equipment installation projects, supported by key personnel with over 40 years’ experience in this field of expertise.

“For Alltype Engineering, this contract is a result of the experience of its key execution team members in delivering rotary kiln projects successfully in the past with different organisations throughout the Australian resources and mineral processing industry,” it added.

The company will commence preliminary work immediately with works planned to be completed by the June quarter of 2022.

Alltype Engineering Managing Director, Kelvin Andrijich, said: “During our financial year 2021 strategic planning in 2020, we identified a niche market opportunity in the rotary kiln and rotating equipment installation space. It is very pleasing to see that the subsequent business case and execution of this strategy 12 months later has resulted in securing our first rotary kiln erection contract as part of the landmark Lynas Rare Earths Processing Facility development in Kalgoorlie.

“We are pleased that Lynas has recognised the experience and capability of our delivery team and the proven self-execution multidiscipline construction capability of Alltype Engineering in the gas, energy, petrochemical and minerals processing industries.

“Alltype Engineering has previously undertaken balance of plant scopes around rotary kilns on operational mineral sands and lithium processing sites in the past and we are excited to now be completing the entire turnkey package in addition to those works.”