Nuklear Malaysia: 'We proposed thorium extraction, not Lynas'

 

The government's nuclear research agency today said the proposal to extract thorium from Lynas’ waste had come from the agency, not Lynas.

Nuklear Malaysia deputy director-general Muhammad Rawi Mohamed Zin, who is in charge of the agency’s research and technology development programme, said it pitched the proposal as “there is a market” for the radioactive material.

He said this during the ‘Himpunan Hijau and Save Malaysia Stop Lynas public session’ that was organised by the environmental groups in Kuala Lumpur today.

Nuklear Malaysia deputy director-general Muhammad Rawi Mohamed Zin, who is in charge of the agency’s research and technology development programme, said this during the ‘Himpunan Hijau and SMSL public session’ that was organised by environmental groups in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Actually, the proposal to extract thorium did not come from Lynas. It was us (Nuklear Malaysia) that wanted to extract thorium.

“Because it can help us, there is a market for us to extract thorium and that is what we wanted,” said Rawi, addressing a suggestion by an environmental activist for Putrajaya to pursue its aspiration in thorium extraction without Lynas.

He was one of the government official panellists who was in attendance at the public session to discuss Putrajaya's latest decision to extend Lynas' operating licence in the country.

The session was held to clarify the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s (Mosti) revision of Lynas licensing conditions.

Rawi’s statement, however, contradicted what Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang had said last month.

According to Chang, Lynas had approached the government with a proposal to extract thorium from its radioactive Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue and lanthanide.

Meanwhile, several activists raised their concerns about the government's commitment to enforce the conditions that it had set for extending Lynas operations in Malaysia.

Himpunan Hijau chairperson Wong Tack said it was worrying that the government allowed Lynas to continue operating in the country despite allegedly having violated many of its licence conditions in the past.

“All these promises to enforce the conditions, including by revoking and suspending Lynas’ licence, had been said many times in the past,” he told reporters after the session.

Bang Seet Ping, a committee member with the movement, questioned the authorities on assurances that the rare earth processing company would not violate their licence conditions.

She also demanded that officials from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and the ministry state the estimated cost of cleaning up the wastes produced by Lynas.

This comes after AELB director-general Noraishah Pungut told the session that Lynas had paid a US$50 million (RM234 million) deposit for its operations in Malaysia.

Last month, Mosti announced that the licensing terms for Lynas to operate in Malaysia and import naturally occurring radioactive material have been revised by the AELB.

One major change is that the government no longer requires Lynas to relocate its cracking and leaching facility in Gebeng, Kuantan - which produces radioactive WLP residue - out of Malaysia.

A condition banning them from importing lanthanide concentrate has also been lifted.

However, Lynas still needs to build a permanent disposal facility (PDF) to store radioactive waste and contribute to a research and development fund, as per the original terms the government gave when extending Lynas' licence to 2026.

The news did not sit well with environmental groups, who demanded more clarity and transparency on the matter. - Mkini