Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Safety

    Lynas Kalgoorlie power cuts: earnings risk and grid stability notes for engineers

    November 26, 2025|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Lynas Kalgoorlie power cuts: earnings risk and grid stability notes for engineers

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Power cuts linked to Western Power’s Eastern Goldfields load permissive scheme have disrupted operations at Lynas Rare Earths’ Kalgoorlie cracking and leaching plant, forcing temporary shutdowns of high-voltage equipment. Canaccord Genuity warns that repeated grid instability could delay ramp-up to nameplate capacity and pressure fiscal-2026 earnings, given the plant’s role in replacing Malaysian cracking capacity. The broker notes that any prolonged derating of electrical supply or need for additional backup generation would raise operating costs and complicate process stability for heat- and power-intensive circuits.

    Technical Brief

    • Protection systems likely operated under grid-code requirements to avoid equipment damage from undervoltage and phase imbalance.
    • Restart procedures for cracking and leaching circuits involve staged energisation and reheating, extending downtime beyond the actual outage period.
    • Process safety management must account for thermal cycling of vessels and pipework, increasing inspection and maintenance demand.
    • Any shift to on-site backup generation would require additional high-voltage switchgear, synchronisation controls and revised electrical protection studies.
    • Safety case documentation and emergency response plans will need updating to reflect recurrent grid-instability scenarios and evacuation triggers.
    • Similar high-energy hydrometallurgical plants on weak grids may need probabilistic power-quality assessments embedded in design criteria.

    Our Take

    The Eastern Goldfields grid has featured in several of our safety‑tagged pieces as a reliability weak spot, so repeated power issues here could force Lynas to consider on-site backup generation or storage to protect its Kalgoorlie rare earths flowsheet.

    In our database, Lynas Rare Earths is one of the few non-Chinese rare earths producers with downstream cracking and leaching capacity, meaning any sustained disruption at its Western Australian facilities tends to tighten supply options for OEMs seeking non-Chinese mixed rare earth carbonate.

    Compared with other Projects-tagged items in the Eastern Goldfields, Lynas’ exposure is more operational than construction-phase, so power instability now translates more directly into near-term earnings and customer delivery risk rather than just schedule slippage.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Young-Davidson mine disruptions: seismic and power impacts explained for engineers
    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    Young-Davidson mine disruptions: seismic and power impacts explained for engineers

    Alamos Gold expects second-quarter output from its Young-Davidson underground mine in northern Ontario to fall to 130,000–135,000 oz, about 12% below prior guidance, after two seismic events damaged infrastructure and cut access to two higher-grade stopes, compounded by a three-day storm-related power outage. Consolidated 2026 production is now projected below full-year guidance with unit costs rising, with revised figures due in July. Production stability is shifting to the Island Gold District, where underground mining rates are planned to increase from 1,500 to 2,000 t/d and the Magino mill ramp-up targets 10,000 t/d by Q3.

    Trinity Metals’ 20% US tungsten supply: project scale and offtake notes for engineers
    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    Trinity Metals’ 20% US tungsten supply: project scale and offtake notes for engineers

    Trinity Metals has doubled exports from its Nyakabingo tungsten mine in Rwanda to Global Tungsten & Powders, now supplying up to 20% of US primary tungsten concentrate consumption, with more than 320 tonnes of 65–70% WO₃ wolframite shipped since a 2025 offtake deal with Traxys. The 1,600-hectare Nyakabingo concession holds an estimated 30,000 tonnes of recoverable tungsten, is licensed for 25 years from 2015, and is undergoing deep drilling to expand resources. Trinity plans to triple production and is targeting a $100–$200 million international listing, positioning Rwanda as a key conflict-free 3T supplier amid Chinese export restrictions.

    SMRs and mining’s nuclear reality check: key power-planning takeaways for engineers
    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    SMRs and mining’s nuclear reality check: key power-planning takeaways for engineers

    Small and micro modular reactors (SMRs and microreactors) sit at the bottom of miners’ low‑carbon power options, despite intense promotion of 300 MW‑class SMRs, AI‑optimised reactor operations and bullish uranium price forecasts. Developers are pitching factory‑built, modular units for remote sites and off‑grid mines, but operators still prioritise proven renewables‑plus‑storage, grid power and gas or diesel hybrids. For mine planners and power engineers, nuclear remains a long‑term possibility rather than a near‑term procurement item for new pits, expansions or remote processing hubs.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy