Lynas bears struggles of Kalgoorlie squeeze

Lynas Rare Earths chief Amanda Lacaze ends the absence of female speakers at Diggers & Dealers, calling for more infrastructure investment to foster domestic critical minerals efforts. 

Despite speaking on Tuesday as the first of two women scheduled to present at the mining conference this year, Ms Lacaze was upbeat about diversity progress within the industry more broadly, indicating the lineup reflected a more exploration and development focused Diggers & Dealers. 

"I don't think it necessarily represents what we have managed to achieve in the industry. If you look at the number of women in senior roles today, it has really significantly increased," she told media, pointing to the likes of BHP Nickel West boss Jess Farrell and Fortescue Metals chief executive Fiona Hick. 

Ms Lacaze relayed to the audience that there were more men named Andrew, Tony, Mark or Matthew presenting at the forum than women, in an informal diversity index previously coined by former Fortescue boss Elizabeth Gaines at the forum.

Her address comes as Lynas - the largest rare earths miner outside of China - embarks on the final stages of building its new refinery seven kilometres from the town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

The operation wil have capacity to process up to 12,000 tonnes of feed from its Mt Weld mine near Laverton once completed. 

But production of the first batch of rare earth carbonate from the refinery has been pushed back as the company grappled with labour shortages as well as finalsing a waste treatment plant.

Kalgoorlie's housing squeeze is well-publicised and become a sticking point for those trying to get the people power to build new projects, with many looking to create their own solutions. 

Lynas was forced to push back the milestone to August as a result of these delays. 

"Production flow is all done except for the waste gas treatment plant," Ms Lacaze said today, adding that production was still being targeted for the current quarter. 

She also advised that new staff from Malaysia had started to arrive to assist with the ramp-up stage. 

Asked about the government's role in fostering a domestic critical minerals industry, Ms Lacaze said its role was to provide infrastructure to support further development. 

"I think about here in Kalgoorlie, the government may say 'wouldn't it be great to get critical minerals hub?'

"But there's no government plan for developing energy solutions for further developing water treatment...for doing all those things which are necessary as we think about what is phase two for our Kalgoorlie facility."

"I don't necessarily want to put our hand up for grant money...but what I would love is more infrastructure investment."