Raw waste or residue from the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) operations in Gebeng, Kuantan, can be marketed in Malaysia, but with two conditions attached.
It must be converted into synthetic aggregates which emit only low-level radiation, and the Australian mining company must be able to find a buyer for this.
Science Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Johnity Ongkili (left) told a press conference in Putrajaya today that this is up to Lynas.
“They have to find a market, (if there is) no buyer, you (Lynas must) export (it), as it is no longer classified as dangerous materials," he said.
He said that the "innovative" option offered by Lynas - and which was made part of the operating licence requirements - is to convert the waste into "an ordinary product that can safely be used for industrial purposes" overseas or in the country.
Under this proposal, the resulting products will not be dangerous as they will emit less than 1 Becquerel of radiation per gram, way lower then the 5 Becquerel per gram as specified by international standards for a substance to be classified as hazardous.
Even so, Maximus clarified that the material would then fall under the jurisdiction of the Environment Quality Act and must fulfill all the legislative provisions prior to being marketed.
The minister was asked to clarify thestatement he had issued jointly with three other ministers yesterday.
In this, they had said Lynas must export all waste and resulting by-products from Lamp operations, and that this also applies to the "synthetic aggregate" materials that the company may market to Malaysian buyers.
Maximus reiterated his stand that, if the waste stays in its raw form, it must be exported, as stipulated in the terms specified to Lynas.
"It is already a condition of the licence, they must obey in this matter.”
‘Facts twisted for political mileage’
Maximus chastised certain parties who, he said, have been twisting facts and using the matter for political mileage.
It must be converted into synthetic aggregates which emit only low-level radiation, and the Australian mining company must be able to find a buyer for this.
Science Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Johnity Ongkili (left) told a press conference in Putrajaya today that this is up to Lynas.“They have to find a market, (if there is) no buyer, you (Lynas must) export (it), as it is no longer classified as dangerous materials," he said.
He said that the "innovative" option offered by Lynas - and which was made part of the operating licence requirements - is to convert the waste into "an ordinary product that can safely be used for industrial purposes" overseas or in the country.
Under this proposal, the resulting products will not be dangerous as they will emit less than 1 Becquerel of radiation per gram, way lower then the 5 Becquerel per gram as specified by international standards for a substance to be classified as hazardous.
Even so, Maximus clarified that the material would then fall under the jurisdiction of the Environment Quality Act and must fulfill all the legislative provisions prior to being marketed.
The minister was asked to clarify thestatement he had issued jointly with three other ministers yesterday.In this, they had said Lynas must export all waste and resulting by-products from Lamp operations, and that this also applies to the "synthetic aggregate" materials that the company may market to Malaysian buyers.
Maximus reiterated his stand that, if the waste stays in its raw form, it must be exported, as stipulated in the terms specified to Lynas.
"It is already a condition of the licence, they must obey in this matter.”
‘Facts twisted for political mileage’
Maximus chastised certain parties who, he said, have been twisting facts and using the matter for political mileage.
He insisted that the federal government is operating according to, and sometimes more strictly than, international requirements.
"Don't politicise the matter. We are smart enough, we are not stupid people lah. We run this country based on international standards,” he said.
A committee will be formed next month to monitor Lynas operations, and will comprise NGO representatives and experts in relevant fields, he said.
It will report to the four ministers whose ministries are involved in overseeing various aspects of the rare earths refinery operations.
Strict compliance will be required of Lynas, he cautioned, failing which the government will not hesitate to terminate the firm's operating licence.
Lynas has promised to abide by the conditions of its licence.
"Don't politicise the matter. We are smart enough, we are not stupid people lah. We run this country based on international standards,” he said.A committee will be formed next month to monitor Lynas operations, and will comprise NGO representatives and experts in relevant fields, he said.
It will report to the four ministers whose ministries are involved in overseeing various aspects of the rare earths refinery operations.
Strict compliance will be required of Lynas, he cautioned, failing which the government will not hesitate to terminate the firm's operating licence.
Lynas has promised to abide by the conditions of its licence.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.