we are starting up plant bit by bit

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/11/29/nation/12386729&sec=nation

We are starting up plant bit by bit, says Lynas MD

KUANTAN: The Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) is still in the process of heating up for the rare earth concentrates to be fed into the kiln.

Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Mashal Ahmad said this in response to reports that the rare earth refinery would begin operations within 48 hours.

“We are still in the process of preparing the plant, heating up, calibrating and starting up bit by bit,” he said. “It is not a 48-hour job.”

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald had reported that the first feedstock was expected to pass into the refinery kiln.

Mashal said that once the rare earth concentrate had been fed into the process line, it would need 45 days to be refined into the final product.

On the shipment of rare earth raw materials to Malaysia, Mashal said any amount imported required approval from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).

About 100 containers of the rare earth concentrates arrived at the Kuantan Port and were transported to the plant last week.

Meanwhile, an unnamed source said Lynas was bound under the strict conditions of the temporary operating licence.

“It can only produce rare earth products in limited quantities,” he said.

The source said AELB officers were on site 24 hours to monitor the plant.

In a related development, Himpunan Hijau said it would blockade the operations of LAMP in Gebeng.

Its chairman Wong Tack said the group was identifying a suitable location for a base camp and would set it up within the next few days.

Wong said the group also intended to block the second shipment of rare earth concentrates from arriving through Kuantan Port to disrupt Lynas' operations.