KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s operating licence could be revoked, if it fails to comply with conditions prohibiting the production of radioactive waste in the country, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang.
He said this was following the Atomic Energy Licensing Board’s (AELB) decision to reject Lynas’ application to remove four licence conditions related to the management of Water Leach Purification (WLP) residues after July 2023, cracking and leaching (C&L) activities at Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP), and the importation of lanthanide concentrates from Australia.
Chang said the decision meant that Lynas could no longer produce radioactive waste after July 2023.
“If Lynas fails to comply the cwith onditions imposed on them, the licence could be revoked. I’m very sorry about Lynas’ disappointment (over the conditions imposed)…we are just continuing the policy,” he told a press conference at the Parliament building here today.
On May 17, last year, Lynas submitted an application to the Department of Atomic Energy (JTA) and the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation to remove four conditions from the LPTA/A/1333 licence related to that matter.
In addition, on October 26, 2022, Lynas submitted a licence renewal application that is due to expire on March 2 this year to the JTA.
“AELB has approved the renewal of Lynas’ licence for a period of three years starting from March 3, 2023, until March 2, 2026,” Chang said.
All licence conditions that have been decided before on March 3, 2020, until March 2, 2023, must continue to be complied with by Lynas.
“Therefore, following the three years licence extension, Lynas must comply with the conditions imposed since March 2020 so that C&L activities that produce radioactive waste will be conducted in Australia and no C&L activities will be carried out at LAMP in Gebeng, Pahang after July 2023.
“Other activities that do not involve the production of radioactive waste are allowed to continue operating,” he said.
Since operating in Malaysia in 2012, Chang said Lynas has produced approximately 1.08 million metric tonnes of radioactive waste (WLP residue), and this amount of waste is expected to reach 1.2 million metric tonnes by July 2023.
“The Unity Government is committed to creating a business-friendly environment and understands the importance of the rare earth industry. However, no party has the right to continuously produce radioactive waste in our homeland,” he said.
— Bernama
