Why single us out, Lynas asks minister

 

Lynas said the closure of its cracking and leaching plant in Malaysia will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs. (AFP pic)

PETALING JAYA: Lynas Malaysia has questioned why the rare earth mining company is being singled out by Putrajaya over concerns of radioactive waste, when it is regulated by a government agency.

Its general manager of radiation safety, Ismail Bahari said they were regulated by the department of atomic energy.

The department regulates many companies in Malaysia which, like Lynas, process minerals containing naturally occurring radioactive material and manage the resulting residues, he said.

He went on to say that four scientific reviews, including two by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and former minister Yeo Bee Yin’s 2018 Executive Review Committee (ERC), have found Lynas to be low risk and compliant with regulation.

Yeo was the energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister in the Pakatan Harapan government.

“The ERC did not recommend the closure of the cracking and leaching plant,” Ismail said in a statement.

He was responding to science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang who said the government may revoke Lynas’ licence if it fails to comply with conditions prohibiting the production of radioactive waste in Malaysia after July 1.

Chang said no one has the right to “continuously produce radioactive waste” in Malaysia.

He added that Lynas must comply with the conditions imposed since March 2020 so that cracking and leaching activities that produce radioactive waste would be conducted in Australia.

Meanwhile, Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze took Chang to task for claiming “there might be some jobs lost” if its licence was revoked, saying the minister did not fully appreciate the effect of the decision.

The closure of Lynas Malaysia’s cracking and leaching plant will result in the loss of hundreds of jobs, she said.

Lacaze added that 99% of employees at Lynas Malaysia are locals.

“It is incorrect to suggest this is a choice between the economy or the environment as evidence of the safe operation of Lynas is clear and validated by four separate reviews by expert scientists.” - FMT