Alltype Engineering has been selected by Lynas Rare Earths to erect and install a rotary kiln at its rare earths processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

The award, worth about A$12 million, includes erection of a six-metre diameter by 110-m long, four-pier kiln and all structural and mechanical drive ancillaries; erection of a discharge hood; and fabrication and installation of a discharge end building as well as a dust chute from discharge and seal.

The scope also involves erection of burner management systems and all ancillaries; fabrication and installation of primary leach overflow rubber lined hopper; installation of pumps, agitators, heat exchangers and all service piping; and installation of all electrical and instrumental works including cabling, infrastructure and instruments.

Alltype will oversee site establishment and the removal area working conditions and logistics with a combination of a local and FIFO workforce, the firm said.

Alltype Engineering Managing Director Kelvin Andrijich noted that the project had been slated since its strategic planning last year for the 2021 fiscal year.

“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 … facility development in Kalgoorlie,” he said.

“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.”

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