Lynas’ plan to recycle the wastes from its rare earths refining processes is “nonsense” and not feasible, according a researcher from the Germany-based think tank Oeko Institute.
The institute’s senior researcher and engineer Gerhard Schmidt said that even if the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) dilutes its water leach purification (WLP) waste stream down to one part per hundred, its resulting radiation is still far above limits that are considered “beyond regulatory concern” (BRC, a radiation standard).
“Any hopes that any waste might be reused is scientifically and technically nonsense, and should not be followed anymore,” he said during a teleconference from Darmstadt, Germany today.
He was speaking at the launch of his 114-page scientific evaluation report on Lamp in Kuala Lumpur today, funded by the NGO Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL).
The institute’s senior researcher and engineer Gerhard Schmidt said that even if the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) dilutes its water leach purification (WLP) waste stream down to one part per hundred, its resulting radiation is still far above limits that are considered “beyond regulatory concern” (BRC, a radiation standard).“Any hopes that any waste might be reused is scientifically and technically nonsense, and should not be followed anymore,” he said during a teleconference from Darmstadt, Germany today.
He was speaking at the launch of his 114-page scientific evaluation report on Lamp in Kuala Lumpur today, funded by the NGO Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL).
Schmidt (top photo, on screen) explained that Lynas’ planned dilution ratio of the wastes is unrealistic because it involves handling and careful mixing of vast amounts of material, over 120 million tonnes per year.
In his report, Schmidt also noted that to bring radiation within BRC limits, an even higher dilution ratio of one part per 500 is required.
BRC is defined as 10 microSieverts of radiation exposure per year, which he said is enough to raise cancer risks by one case per million persons.
As such, the WLP waste stream should not be released into the public. A permanent enclosure in a waste disposal facility is the only viable option, the radioactive waste management expert said.
WLP is one of Lamp’s three waste streams and has the highest concentration of radioactive materials and other toxins.
The other two waste streams are known as flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) and neutralisation underflow residue (NUF).
In his report, Schmidt also noted that to bring radiation within BRC limits, an even higher dilution ratio of one part per 500 is required.
BRC is defined as 10 microSieverts of radiation exposure per year, which he said is enough to raise cancer risks by one case per million persons.
As such, the WLP waste stream should not be released into the public. A permanent enclosure in a waste disposal facility is the only viable option, the radioactive waste management expert said.
WLP is one of Lamp’s three waste streams and has the highest concentration of radioactive materials and other toxins.
The other two waste streams are known as flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) and neutralisation underflow residue (NUF).
Malaysiakini has already contacted Lynas Corporation for comment on the report and is awaiting its response.
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