Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang indicated an alternative solution for Lynas Malaysia to retain its cracking and leaching facility in Gebeng, Kuantan.
Instead of having to relocate the operations in its entirety as was originally required, Chang said the Gebeng plant can be retained - if Lynas ships out the waste from it.
“If someone is willing to ship the ‘low-risk radioactive waste’ (as claimed) out of our country, the government can consider retaining C&L (cracking and leaching) plant in Gebeng,” he tweeted today.
Earlier this week the government agreed to renew Lynas’ licence on several conditions, one of which was to relocate the cracking and leaching facility - which produces radioactive Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue - out of Malaysia before July 2023.
The company decried the conditions and warned that hundreds of jobs will be lost as a direct result if it is forced to close its cracking and leaching facility.
Asked by Malaysiakini in an interview if the cabinet is united on the Lynas issue, Chang said: “Regarding Lynas, every decision made in the cabinet we have to abide by.”
“Lynas as a hot potato is not that hot because Mosti (Science, Technology, Innovation Ministry) is not putting in new conditions.
“Those are all conditions imposed in 2020. Of course, Lynas might respond aggressively but to me, I’m just doing my job. And I think the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), they’re just doing a job,” said Chang.
He said if Lynas was not happy, they could appeal to him as a minister and that the company had not exhausted all its avenues.
Besides moving away cracking and leaching operations, the government also required Lynas to build a permanent disposal facility (PDF) to store the existing waste from when it began operating in 2012.
Further, the company is also barred from importing and processing rare earth concentrate after July 1 this year.
These conditions must be met for Lynas’ licence to be renewed for three years starting March 1. - Mkini
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