Lynas Corporation says it has lodged plans to satisfy two new conditions for its advanced materials plant (LAMP) in a bid to receive a new temporary operating licence.
The Malaysian authority set up to conduct public discussion about the Lynas plant, the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), has recommended a licence be issued for the LAMP after talking with local residents, special interest groups and non-government organizations about their public health and environmental safety concerns.
The committee says Lynas has complied with Malaysian standards and laws, which are in line with international principles. “We welcome the PSC report. Throughout our time in Malaysia, we have worked to be completely transparent, and to provide full and comprehensive details about every aspect of our operation to satisfy government and community concerns,” says Lynas executive chairman Nicholas Curtis. “We are committed to operating in a safe and sustainable manner and to making a significant ongoing contribution to Malaysia.”
In March, Lynas announced it would vigorously defend claims made by members of the community about its rare earths advanced materials processing plant which is under construction near Kuantan in Pahang, Malaysia. Construction of the plant is nearing completion, with systematic completion of test packs and pre-commissioning about one third complete.
An independent review of the project by the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded in 2011 that the LAMP is expected to be safe and fully compliant with international standards.
Lynas says it looks forward to finalizing the Atomic Energy Licensing Board’s requirements in relation to the new conditions to secure a new temporary operating licence as soon as possible.