Lynas Facility Generates Low Level Of Radioactive Waste - IAEA...

Lynas Facility Generates Low Level Of Radioactive Waste - IAEA Team

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have concluded that the Lynas rare earth processing facility near Kuantan generates very low level radioactive waste.

The conclusion was made by the IAEA expert team following a follow-up mission to conduct an independent review of radiation safety at the rare earth processing facility.

"The radiological risks of the Lynas plant are low because of the low level of radioactivity of the materials handled," team leader and director of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology Division in the IAEA's Department of Nuclear Energy, Juan Carlos Lentijo, said in a statement on Friday.

He said in the preliminary observations, the follow-up mission found that good progress had been made in implementing the 11 recommendations made by the international body during its review mission in 2011.

"Malaysia was actively updating its regulations in accordance with the most recent IAEA safety standards," he said.

Rare earths are elements used in many high-technology applications, from mobile phones to wind turbines.

Since the ore from which they are refined also usually contains naturally occurring radioactive materials such as thorium or uranium, the process results in very low-level radioactive waste that must be managed safely.

-- BERNAMA