We all (I think know by now) it ain't going to be plain sailing but tt is hard to keep up with these articles and as for the "sources"...what can I say? We all know that the press haven't been accurate at times but does this mean that it has been so everytime?
By Aisyah Sulaiman, V. Shankar Ganesh New Straits Times Thursday, Jun 21, 2012 PUTRAJAYA - There are still two hurdles for the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) to cross before it can make its mark in Malaysia. This is apart from the two additional conditions set by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili for the company to be given a temporary operating licence.
The Class A TOL only allows Lamp to process limited lanthanide concentrates in stages, and they would need to adhere to all the licensing requirements imposed in the TOL which would be the base for licence approval.
"The temporary licence does not give them the power to fully erect their buildings and continue with their operations.
"They still have to acquire two more licences from the government," said a source close to the authorities in the matter.
Once LAMP has cleared all the requirements set by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), they would have to get the premises licence from the Kuantan Municipal Council to start building factories.
"The last challenge would be to get the full operating licence from AELB," said the source, adding that it would only be issued once each of the conditions are met, including approval from the Department of Environment and the ministry.
The process will then be repeated and monitored to ensure that the company continues its standards and procedures.
"They will continually be assessed on their management and response system, especially on the residue and how it is handled.
"There is no deadline for the company, and AELB will take six months or less to make an assessment on whether the rules have been followed," said the source.
Meanwhile, Hulu Langat member of parliament Dr Che Rosli Che Mat said yesterday Pas would agree with LAMP if safety issues raised by the public were addressed satisfactorily.
Speaking at Parliament lobby in Kuala Lumpur together with Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad, he said the main issue was the storage and disposal of waste material from the plant.
Che Rosli said although the external radiation from thorium was low, the issue was the internal radiation if the substance found its way to the human food chain.
He said Lynas should set up a lab scale of the plant and study its residue impact.
Che Rosli said LAMP would be safe if all issues regarding safety were handled well.
Meanwhile, Lynas Corporation Ltd, the Australian rare earth firm behind LAMP, said it was committed to operating in a safe and sustainable manner.
Bernama reported that in a statement yesterday, Lynas executive chairman Nicholas Curtis said throughout its time in Malaysia, the company had worked to be completely transparent, and to provide full and comprehensive details about every aspect of its operations to satisfy government and community concerns.
"We welcome the PSC report," Curtis said, adding that Lynas was also committed to making significant ongoing contributions to Malaysia.
Lynas may begin its operations by year end By RAZAK AHMAD and ONG HAN SEAN [email protected]
PETALING JAYA: Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd could be awarded a temporary operating licence (TOL) before the end of this year, allowing it to start operations at its rare earths plant - if it fulfils all seven licensing conditions set by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
“If the authorities are satisfied that the conditions have been met, then the matter will be brought to the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) for a decision on the TOL,” a senior official told The Star.
The source said, of the seven licensing conditions imposed on Lynas, two that were announced by minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili on June 15 were the most important.
The conditions are that Lynas must submit to the AELB a method to immobilise radioactive elements in the residue to be disposed in the event excessive residue is stored in the residue storage facility; that Lynas must submit an emergency response plan to control release of dust from the residue into the environment.
The source said the authorities would study the 31 recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) in its report on Tuesday, which concluded that the company should be awarded a TOL after finding that it had met the requirements.
Lynas said yesterday it had submitted to the AELB on June 19 its plans to satisfy the two licensing conditions.
“Lynas looks forward to the finalisation of the AELB's requirements in relation to those conditions, and the issuance of the TOL as soon as possible,” it said in a statement.
“Throughout our time in Malaysia, we have worked to be completely transparent, and to provide full and comprehensive details about every aspect of our operations and to satisfy government and community concerns,” Lynas executive chairman Nicholas Curtis was quoted as saying in the statement while welcoming the PSC report.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohmed said adequate research had been done to ensure the Lynas plant was not a threat to public safety.
“The PSC has recommended that waste generated be disposed of at a location outside the country. We expect that the AELB will take heed of this and make it a condition for the granting of a TOL,” he said in a statement.
In KUANTAN, a group of 43 NGOs has emerged, expressing its support for Government policies on the Lynas project.
The group, calling itself Gabungan NGO Pahang Mendukung Agenda Untuk Nasional, urged anti-Lynas groups to respect the PSC's findings.
“We hope there will no more aggressive movements to oppose the project as it will affect the country's development,” its co-ordinator Wan Emril Nizam Wan Embong said at a press conference.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/anti-lynas-group-vows-wave-after-wave-of-protests Anti-Lynas group vows ‘wave after wave’ of protests
read link for details
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