Lynas looking at disused mining pools to dispose waste

Lynas Malaysia says it has deposited US$42.2 million in cash and cash-backed bonds with the government to fund long-term residue management at its Pahang plant.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd has deposited US$42.2 million in cash and cash-backed bonds with the Malaysian government to fund long-term residue management at its Pahang plant.

It said in a statement today the management of waste created from rare earths processing at its facility in Gebeng, Kuantan, had always been a key part of its planning and operations and that it had complied with its licence conditions requiring residues to be stored safely.

The statement, signed by managing director Mashal Ahmad and general manager for radiation safety, regulations and compliance Ismail Bahari, said Lynas was looking at various options to store the water leach purification (WLP) residue, including at disused mining pools in the state.

Lynas said it welcomed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent indication that the export of the WLP residue would not be a condition for renewal of its operating licence.

It said residues were stored at a permanent disposal facilities (PDF) which had been approved by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board.

According to the statement, the government’s Lynas executive review committee had found that Lynas Malaysia’s operations complied with regulations and that the residue storage facilities were being operated in a proper manner.

“Lynas has also complied with its licence condition to complete research to identify options to safely reuse the residues.

“Independent and peer-reviewed research over several years has demonstrated that WLP residue, an iron phosphate material with very low level radioactivity, can be safely reused in a soil conditioner product.

“In addition, Lynas has complied with its licence conditions relating to PDF planning. Should the preference of the Malaysian government be a PDF, Lynas Malaysia’s current residue management practices and research, together with international best practice, can be applied to identify options to best utilise the material,” he said.

As an example, the statement said, there were several disused mines in Pahang that required rehabilitation and “a PDF can be designed such that it assists in the rehabilitation of this land, providing environmental benefits in a sustainable way”.

Lynas gave an assurance that it would work with the federal and state governments to implement these plans.

The Lynas Advance Materials Processing Plant’s operating licence expires on Sept 2.

Mahathir was reported as saying on Aug 1 that Lynas had been directed to construct a PDF to treat the WLP residue that is created from rare earths processing at its Gebeng plant. - FMT