Lynas disappointed only one MP in committee wants to visit plant
KUANTAN: Lynas Malaysia is disappointed that not many of the special parliamentary “caucus” committee members, tasked with monitoring the plant, have taken up its offer to visit the plant and get a briefing on its operations.
Managing director Datuk Mashal Ahmad said Lynas had extended the invitation to the committee members, including Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin, but only one had responded.
“All except one member of the caucus have declined or not responded to our hand-delivered invitations.
“This is disappointing, as many assertions made by the committee are incorrect and we wish to ensure that all members have access to facts,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Mashal said the Lynas executive review committee had adopted a diligent and scientific approach by visiting the facility and meeting the management, scientific experts, community members and groups opposed to Lynas.
He said the review committee had found that Lynas Malaysia’s operations were low risk and compliant with the regulations, and that the residue storage facilities were operated in a proper manner.
“These findings are consistent with several independent and scientific reviews, including that by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“The review committee also made recommendations, including for Lynas to build a permanent disposal facility (PDF) for the Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue, and we are prepared to comply with this recommendation.
“Lynas believes the review committee’s recommendations should be adhered to and all assessments of our operations should be based on scientific facts and evidence, not unsupported assertions.”
He said the Atomic Energy Licensing Board had issued three operating licences to Lynas Malaysia: the Temporary Operating Licence (Sept 3, 2012 to Sept 2, 2014) and two Full Operating Stage Licences (Sept 3, 2014 to Sept 2, 2016 and Sept 3, 2016 to Sept 2 this year).
“In line with international best practices, the three licences require Lynas to carry out research and development on the safe reuse of the WLP residue generated. If that proves impractical, the licence conditions requires us to site, construct and build a PDF to store the WLP residue.
“Lynas Malaysia is only required to export the WLP out of Malaysia if both of the previous options are not available.”
Marshal provided a letter signed by the then Lynas Corporation executive chairman on Feb 23, 2012. It stated that Lynas Corporation was willing to undertake action to remove from Malaysia all waste generated by the Lynas Advance Material Plant in Gebeng during the Temporary Operating Licence period based on the three-stage order of priority in each of the operating licences.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said the cabinet would decide on the management of Lynas’ radioactive waste.