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Construction has gone ahead at Lynas’ rare earths factory, despite concerns about radioactive
Seven reasons why Lynas shouldn’t be granted a permanent operating licence8 Aug 2014 Kuantan-born Phua Kai Lit, a public health professor, shares with us why Lynas Corp should not be granted an extension to its temporary operating licence for its rare earth refinery in Gebeng (full article below): There has been much public and professional (public health experts) discussion about the threat posed by the Lynas rare earth metals extraction plant in Kuantan. These include threats – based on the documented bad experience in Baotou, China – to the health of the people of Kuantan and surrounding areas, and threats to the environment. We should also look at some ethical reasons why the factory should not be granted an extension of its TOL (Temporary Operating License, due for expiry in September 2014) or be given a POL (Permanent Operating License) … https://anilnetto.com/economy/development-issues/7-reasons-lynas-granted-permanent-operating-licence/ |
Lynas! Return to Australia and consume your own rare earth waste ‘shit’
The Lynas rare earth waste controversy has been raging since 2012 when the corrupt-to-the-core Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) approved the Australian company to dump their “shit” for Malaysians to consume.
Now that Malaysians have kicked out BN from Putrajaya (federal government) in the May 9 14th General Election (GE14) after six decades of regressive rule, the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) ruling coalition is reviewing the existence of Lynas’ operation and existence.
Not surprising, Lynas has gone into an offensive to demonise the federal government’s setting up of a panel to review Lynas.
No News Is Bad News has this to say in response to Lynas:
“Get the hell out of Malaysia. Return to Australia and consume your own rare earth waste or ‘shit’. It should be good enough for Australians but not Malaysians. The fact and reality is that if the waste is not safe to be shipped back to Australia, why should it be safe for Malaysians?"
Here’s what Lynas is whining about and the panel chairman's response:
"Council: Panel reviewing Lynas must be objective
NATION
Tuesday, 2 Oct 2018
PETALING JAYA: The composition of the committee set up to review Lynas Corporation’s rare earth project in Gebeng, Kuantan, are among factors critical in ensuring the nation’s reputation as a stable and open investment destination, says the Malaysia-Australia Business Council (MABC).
“The credibility of the review, which includes the composition of the review team and the terms of reference, is critical to ensure that it does not damage Malaysia’s reputation as a stable and open investment destination,” the council said in a statement here yesterday.
While the council acknowledged and did not dispute the government’s right to conduct a review of the operations, it said the review should be to assess any breaches of licences or for not meeting acceptable international standards.
“In the interests of maintaining investors’ confidence, any review into Lynas Malaysia should be public, transparent, objective and evidence-based,” the council said.
The statement by MABC follows the council’s concerns over recent reports about a review of the operations of Lynas Malaysia, which has been producing high quality rare earth materials in Kuantan under extensive licensing conditions since September 2014.
“Malaysia has long been regarded as an attractive investment destination,” it said.
“This is because of the reliable legal framework; predictable economic and political environment; and openness to investment.”
MABC noted that Australian businesses had invested almost RM30bil in Malaysia as of end 2017 in several sectors including manufacturing, services, agribusiness, resources and the digital economy.
Last month, the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry announced that it would be setting up a committee to review Lynas’ operations.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Fuziah Salleh was appointed the chairman.
Her appointment to lead the review committee had raised concerns among several parties.
NATION
Tuesday, 2 Oct 2018
4:28 PM MYT
by ong han sean
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| Signboard indicating the entrance to the construction site of the Lynas rare earth refinery in Gebeng. |
The review on the Lynas rare earth refinery here will be guided by a framework of sustainable development and investments, she said.
Fuziah said the Pakatan Harapan government had clearly stated in its manifesto that sustainability is an integral part of its policy.
"Promise 39 of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto under the heading 'Balancing Economic Growth with Environmental Protection' states that 'the Pakatan Harapan government promises to govern the country, based on the principles of sustainability and sustainable development.
"In short, it will be an environmentally friendly government'," said Fuziah, who is also Lynas executive review committee chairman, in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 2).
In her open letter published in The Star on Tuesday, Lacaze appealed to the government to be fair and just, and be objective and scientific in any review of Lynas Malaysia.
Lacaze noted that the media had reported that the committee would be chaired by a person who openly admitted to being anti-Lynas.
She also said Lynas had yet to be notified of the membership of the review committee, the scope of the review or the committee's terms of reference.
Fuziah pointed out that the name of the committee clearly reflected its executive nature and thus it was chaired by an executive member of the government.
"Apart from the RWMP, the committee will also be looking into other aspects of safety such as health impacts, social impacts as well as environmental impacts."
Reports from previous review committees such as the Parliamentary Select Committee as well as recommendations by the International Atomic Energy Agency will also be considered.
"Other aspects of the review will also look into decisions by the previous government and its chronology," she said.
Fuziah emphasised that the committee was committed to safety standards and decisions that promotes inter-generational justice, as well as policies that promote sustainable investments as a future guideline for the government of the day.
She also said the committee welcomes Lynas' suggestion that the hearing be open to the public.
"The committee acknowledges the fact that Lynas and its employees are an important stakeholder to be considered by the committee as well as recognises the fact that there are other important stakeholders to be considered and for their views to be equally considered.
"Thus the review process by the committee shall be open and transparent to the various important stakeholders, as we are here representing the present government which believes in transparency, and we are here to ensure that the policies of the present government on sustainable development is being adhered to," she added."
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| Malaysians are unconvinced Lynas’ rare earth factory will deal properly with radioactive waste. EPA/Ahmad Yusni Should Malaysia bear the burden of Australian radioactive waste? September 24, 2012 2.15pm AEST Kai-Lit Phua Associate Professor , Monash University The radioactive waste generated by an Australian-owned rare earth extraction factory in Malaysia has generated a firestorm of controversy. The factory - the world’s largest - is owned by Lynas Corporation, and will extract rare earths from materials shipped in from Western Australia. The factory is at Gebeng, near the city of Kuantan in Malaysia. The population of the metropolitan area is about 700,000. The factory is located very near to the South China Sea. At full capacity, it will be the world’s largest rare earth extraction plant: about 22,000 tonnes of rare earth elements per annum will be extracted from material shipped in all the way from Mount Weld, Western Australia. The wastes from production will include radioactive thorium and uranium and their radioactive decay products such as radium and radon. The wastes will not be shipped back to Australia for safe disposal since Australian authorities have explicitly refused to accept them. Lynas has been granted a temporary operating license (TOL) for two years, and a generous 12-year tax exemption. But the project lacks an International Atomic Energy Agency-recommended long-term waste management plan, and there is no “permanent disposal facility” (PDF) for the wastes … for more, go to http://theconversation.com/should-malaysia-bear-the-burden-of-australian-radioactive-waste-9566 |
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