Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang says Lynas Malaysia can’t submit another appeal to remove the four licensing conditions imposed on them.
Chang said he is not at liberty to change his decision after rejecting their appeal.
“It is not doable by law,” he reportedly told Free Malaysia Today.
Section 32 (5) of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act states that a minister’s decision on an appeal is final and is not subject to any further appeal or review in any court.
Lynas, in a statement yesterday, said it would seek to review the government’s decision.
In February, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) agreed to renew Lynas’ operating licence effective from March 3 for a period of three years.
However, this was subject to strict conditions.
One of these conditions was to relocate the cracking and leaching (C&L) facility at Gebeng, Kuantan - which produces radioactive Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue - out of Malaysia before July 2023.
The other conditions that Lynas must comply with include beginning the process of developing a permanent disposal facility, submitting a work development plan and reporting its status, and maintaining a financial deposit for compliance.
Lynas had appealed against the conditions, with a hearing held on April 28.
Chang rejected the appeal.
However, he gave the company a six-month extension to relocate its C&L operations to Dec 31, 2023, but there will be no further extension.
In a separate report, Bernama cited the minister as saying that Lynas’ C&L plant in Australia was almost ready.
“Their plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, is almost ready and the extension of this period takes into account if they cannot complete (the plant) before July,” he said. - Mkini
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