The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) has agreed to extend the stipulated deadline for Lynas to begin constructing a permanent waste disposal facility (PDF).
This comes after Bentong MP Wong Tack urged the government to revoke Lynas’ license as it failed to comply with one of the licence renewal conditions.
When contacted, AELB confirmed that the board has approved Lynas’ request for an extension and the new deadline is September 2, 2021.
“Lynas has filed an appeal for an extension of the period. The board has agreed to extend it for 6 months until September 2, 2021,” read a written reply to Malaysiakini.
Lynas was granted a three-year licence renewal from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board in February last year.
The licence renewal came with conditions for Lynas to meet, including building a cracking and leaching facility outside Malaysia before July 2023, after which the company will not be allowed to import raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive material.
The company would also have to begin developing a permanent disposal facility for low-level radioactive waste from rare-earth processing within the first year from the date of approval of the license.
Although the government has approved a site in Pahang for the facility, the Department of Environment (DOE) has marked on its website a rejection for Lynas’ Jan 26 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application.
Despite the rejection, the Australian miner company claimed that it is preparing further information to submit and resume the assessment of the EIA.
As rare earth production involves radioactive material, a license from AELB is needed for Lynas’ operation in Malaysia. AELB is parked under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti).
The EIA for its permanent waste disposal facility needs approval from DOE, which is now parked under the Environment and Water Ministry.
Malaysiakini has contacted Mosti and DOE for a response. - Mkini
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