Malaysia renews Lynas Rare Earths operating licence for 10 years

Group 1 - Malaysia has renewed Lynas Rare Earths' operating licence for an additional 10 years, allowing the company to import raw materials containing natural radioactive material and process rare earths [1] - Lynas shares increased by as much as 7% to A$20.30, reaching their highest level since October 21, 2025, while the broader ASX 200 benchmark declined by approximately 0.5% [1] - The formal licence is expected to be issued by the Malaysian Department of Atomic Energy and will take effect from March 3 [1] Group 2 - In 2023, the Malaysian government amended Lynas' licence to permit operations until March 2026, following previous concerns about radiation levels from the company's processing methods [1] - Lynas has invested around A$180 million (approximately $127.91 million) to construct a new separation facility in Malaysia, driven by increasing demand for heavy rare earth oxides sourced outside of China [1]