‘Make Lynas extract thorium in Australia, not here’

‘Make Lynas extract thorium in Australia, not here’


The proposed plan for Lynas to remove radioactive thorium from its materials must be carried out in Australia before it is shipped to Malaysia, according to Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack.

“This way, we can ensure our people are protected from facing the risks of further accumulation of radioactive wastes on our land,” the environmental activist said in a statement today.

This statement came after Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said that thorium extraction can be carried out on either Lynas’ lanthanide concentrate feedstock, or the waste products it produces.

Wong, the former Bentong MP, expressed doubt that Lynas could deliver on its promises and that Malaysia would be left to deal with an even bigger radioactive waste problem in two years.

“If thorium can be extracted from Lynas’s feedstock, then the minister must compel Lynas to get it done in Australia first before shipping their raw materials here.

“We can also sell our expertise to Australia. Our ‘experts’ can earn some Australian dollars. Good exchange rate now I believe,” he said.

The Atomic Energy Licencing Board revised licensing terms for Lynas on Monday, which allows the company to resume importing lanthanide concentrate from its mining facilities in Mt Weld, Australia, and to keep its cracking and leaching facility in Gebeng, Kuantan.

The cracking and leaching facility had been controversial because the water leach purification (WLP) residue it produces contains small amounts of thorium and other radionuclides - enough to be classified as low-level radioactive waste.


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Prior to the revision, Lynas was required to move the cracking and leaching operations out of Malaysia.

The terms still require Lynas to build a permanent disposal facility to store radioactive waste and contribute to a research and development fund - as per the original terms the government gave when extending Lynas’ licence to 2026.

The decision was made after Lynas approached the government with a proposal to extract thorium from the WLP and lanthanide, which would reduce the radioactivity of the WLP residue to a point where it is no longer regulated as radioactive waste.