AELB denies Lynas seeking to retain leaching facility in Kuantan
Australian miner Lynas has allegedly requested the government to discard an important condition in the operating licence which will expire in March 2023.
The condition, set by the Pakatan Harapan government, was to move the cracking and leaching facility, which produces radioactive Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue, outside Malaysia before July 2023.
However, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) told Malaysiakini that it hasn’t received any application from Lynas to renew the licence.
“Conditions for the Lynas licence remain the same as before. There are no changes to the requirements set, including additional conditions which require Lynas to carry out the cracking and leaching process abroad," it said.
This came after a source revealed that Lynas made the request to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba
Lynas gave several reasons for the removal of the condition, namely the loss of highly skilled workers and economic loss.
Malaysiakini has contacted Adham and Lynas for comments.
However, Adham’s secretary said the question should be referred to AELB, while Lynas has yet to reply.
Licence extended in Feb 2020
Since Lynas established the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in 2012, the radioactive waste produced by the company has been a concern among the local communities.
In August 2019, the then Harapan government agreed to extend Lynas' licence for another six months with three conditions, including the requirement to relocate its cracking and leaching facility abroad.
Lynas gave several reasons for the removal of the condition, namely the loss of highly skilled workers and economic loss.
Malaysiakini has contacted Adham and Lynas for comments.
However, Adham’s secretary said the question should be referred to AELB, while Lynas has yet to reply.
Licence extended in Feb 2020
Since Lynas established the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in 2012, the radioactive waste produced by the company has been a concern among the local communities.
In August 2019, the then Harapan government agreed to extend Lynas' licence for another six months with three conditions, including the requirement to relocate its cracking and leaching facility abroad.
Lynas was asked to submit a plan to construct the facility in another country, withdrawing the process from Kuantan in order to minimise radioactive wastes.
After July 2023, the company will not be allowed to import raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive material.
In December 2019, the rare earth industry giant announced that it has selected the city of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, as the location for its new cracking and leaching plant.
In February 2020, the Harapan government extended Lynas' operating licence to March 2023.
No comments:
Post a Comment