Lynas has yet to submit permanent disposal facility plan:...

Lynas has yet to submit permanent disposal facility plan: AELB

KUANTAN: Rare earth mining company, Lynas Sdn Bhd still has to submit to the government its permanent disposal facility (PDF) plan and location despite having claimed that its industrial waste would be fully recycled.

Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) director-general Datuk Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan said the PDF plan was needed as an assurance that the industrial waste from Lynas' proposed rare earth processing plant in Gebeng here would not pose any threat to human health should the company failed to recycle.

“As long as it does not submit the PDF plan and adhere to several other regulations, the government will not allow the company to begin operation even though a temporary operating licence (TOL) has been issued by the AELB.

“This is because the PDF issue has raised public concerns. At the same time, the government is also concerned about public safety and health and wants Lynas to be fully responsible if it fails to recycle the industrial waste from the proposed plant.”

He said this to reporters after attending the launch of Pahang State Economic Convention 2012 by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob here Wednesday.

Commenting further, Raja Abdul Aziz said Lynas should also reply to the Letter of Undertaking which compelled the Australian-based company to reclaim all its industrial waste should its operation in Gebeng were to be closed.

“They also have to inform the government the exact dates for them to pay the installment for a security deposit of RM50 million before they can begin operation,” he said.

He said as the governing body for the issue, AELB would also appoint an independent monitoring team to cooperate with the Department of Environment, Health Ministry, Department of Occupational Safety and Health and local authorities to ensure that Lynas would adhere to all safety and health aspects. - Bernama