An Australian company has been given the green light for a large rare earths project in WA.

Hastings Technology Metals has received a commonwealth environmental permit for the Yangibana rare earths project, which includes the development of five open pit mines, groundwater abstraction, on-site processing of ore, tailings storage facilities and supporting infrastructure.

Hastings chair Charles Lew says the company now has all its material approvals, including land tenure and a native title agreement.

“This environmental permit complements the state approval received in August 2019. Both approvals demonstrate confidence by the state and commonwealth governments that the project can be implemented in an environmentally sound manner,” Mr Lew said.

The environmental assessment process for the Yangibana project lasted close to four years.

The latest permit does include some conditions, including a validation of the groundwater model during the construction phase and the development of a groundwater dependent ecosystem monitoring program.

The proposed processing plant will treat rare earth deposits to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate for further refinement into individual oxides at processing plants overseas.

The company wants to become one of the most significant producers of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.