If you think we haven't processed enough Australian rare earth, African come with reinforcement!

Today's news on Malaysia Insider (28th April 2011, reported by Debra Chong) -- see full text here
Lynas has acquired the  Kangankunde Carbonatite Complex (KGK) deposits in Malawi, and 'is too early' to decide where to process the rare earth.

It is not at all too early for Lynas to announce to us whether to process the Malawi's ore in Malaysia or not. They have already done so and presented that to their Investors exactly two months ago! (ref: See Lynas Investor Presentation, March 2011. pp 34) -- "Concentrates may be processed in Africa to produce a mixed rare earths product which will then be shipped to Malaysia for separation, or may be full processed at the Malaysian processing facility"

That means the mineral cracking and separation will be done in Africa. The rare earth ore will either processed in Africa to produce rare earth mixtures before shipping to Malaysia for refinery/separation; or the ore to be shipped to Malaysia for full refinery processing, e.g. decomposition, refining.


It's not difficult to guess where would Lynas process the Malawi's concentrates, as Lynas has retrieved their ONLY rare earth processing facility in China entirely, hence built a new one in Malaysia.

If not here, where else??