Lynas’s real issue concerns
radioactive waste, minister
told
Activist Wong Tack derides Rafizi Ramli’s explanation for a change in stance on the rare earth mining firm’s continued operations in Malaysia.
Ex-Bentong MP Wong Tack said the main concern over the Australian rare earth mining firm’s operations centre around the radioactive waste that it generates.
he told FMT.It’s not about mineral mapping at all. We used to fight Lynas with them (PH) together. Look at what he (Rafizi) is saying now,
Wong said the biggest concern is with Lynas’s permanent disposal facility (PDF) – expected to be ready by year-end – and, in particular, its close proximity to the low-lying coastal area.
he said.Who is going to pay for it and manage the waste when Lynas shuts down after their licence ends?
In 2021, then Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh opposed the selection of Gebeng, Pahang as the site of the facility, citing concerns about the possibility of radioactive waste leaking and contaminating the environment.
Last month, Rafizi explained that PH had, prior to the 2018 general election, opposed Lynas’s presence on grounds that Malaysia had been made a dumping ground for its waste by-products.
Speaking in an episode of his Yang Bakar Menteri podcast, Rafizi said Lynas had brought in raw materials from Australia for processing here. He said the processed materials were then sent back to Australia but the waste by-products were kept in Malaysia.
He said no mineral mapping had been carried out to establish the potential of rare earths or any demand for the minerals before PH came into power.
However, Rafizi said that after PH took over the reins of government, a mineral mapping was carried out and its results suggested that Malaysia would benefit from Lynas’s operations.
Activist Tan Bun Teet, however, noted that the PH government had made no mention of mineral mapping when speaking on the subject previously.
He said current science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang did not cite it as a reason for first extending and later renewing Lynas’s licence until March 2026.
“In May last year, when Chang announced a six-month extension for Lynas (to meet conditions attached to its operating licence), he said it was to prevent any disruptions to the global rare earths supply chain.
“Then, in October, when he announced the licence renewal, it was based on preliminary laboratory findings indicating that thorium radioactive elements can be extracted from water leach purification (WLP) residues.
The mineral mapping for rare earths was not mentioned then, so why is it brought up now? It seems that Rafizi and Chang are not on the same page.
Tan also voiced concern over the location of Lynas’s PDF, saying such facilities should be built in isolated and dry areas, away from any human presence.
This is to reduce the impact of waste materials on the surrounding environment and nearby inhabitants, he added.
he claimed.However, this seems not to be the case with the current facility. In the long run, Malaysians will have to bear the burden of the radioactive waste,
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