The government Tuesday said it allowed Lynas to continue to import and process rare earths at its refinery in central Pahang state, reversing a decision for such activities to halt by
Activist
“It is extremely irresponsible of the (science) minister to extend Lynas’ license and allow them to generate more waste when the existing waste has not been safely dealt with,” he said.
Environmental group
It noted that previous research by Lynas to turn the radioactive waste into agriculture fertilizer was rejected by the government.
“A reversal of the government decision based on this preliminary study does not at all sound convincing or assuring from a public health and environmental standpoint,” it said in a statement. While the government is keen to profit from the rare earths industry, this cannot be at the expense of people’s health and the environment, it added.
Science Minister
It has amassed in a gigantic open landfill exposed to natural disasters such as floods. Lynas is building a permanent disposal facility to bury the waste but it's unclear why it took so long to complete.
The extension granted this week is one of several reprieves the company has won. The government originally ordered Lynas to move its leaching and cracking processes — which produce the radioactive waste from Australian ore — out of the country by the year’s end. It also was not allowed to import raw materials with radioactive elements into the country.
Science Minister Chang has said he considered the decision a win-win situation because a successful removal of the radioactive element would resolve the issue of the growing toxic waste.
Rare earths are 17 minerals used to make products such as electric or hybrid vehicles, weapons, flat-screen TVs, mobile phones, mercury-vapor lights and camera lenses.
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