LYNAS permit to operate in Malaysia for another 3 years approved? It is interesting that it happens during this current political turmoil.
The Malaysian government, however has not yet made any announcement about this - What more there is no Minister at the moment..
The Lynas issue was an important issue during the last General Election - Many believed that once UMNO-BN was out, the new government will close down LYNAS or at least get Lynas to take away their waste from Malaysia.
BUT the people were disappointed as the new then PH government seem to have compromised their position...
More details must be provided by the government as to WHY the permit was extended? We may have to wait until we have a NEW Prime Minister and a new Cabinet to find out.
Or was it BN-ruled Pahang's decision as Lynas is operating in Pahang? Or is Pakatan Harapan free from fault?
Still wondering whether the people living nearby were even asked whether they are OK with Lynas operating on for another 3 years? Will the people around that Permanent Depository Facility(PDF) have a say at all?
Why do the people not have the final say? Democracy as practiced in Malaysia? What about the Sultan of Pahang - did he agree or he also did not have a say? A lot of questions...
See related post:-
Government renews Lynas plant license
KUALA
LUMPUR: The government has extended the licence of the controversial
Lynas rare earths plant in Kuantan, Pahang for three years, its operator
said on Thursday, despite concerns about the impact of radioactive
waste it produces.
Lynas hopes its factory, which has
processed rare earths from Australia since 2012, can reduce Chinese
dominance in the market for the materials.
Rare earth
minerals are used in everything from missiles to mobile phones, and
Lynas is the only major producer of them outside China.
Environmentalists
and some politicians are opposed to the plant owing to health fears
related to the waste, and a review into the operation was launched in
2018.
But the company confirmed that the government has
granted a new licence to operate until March 2023. The previous licence
expired in September, and Lynas was initially given a six-month
extension.
“Over the past eight years, we have demonstrated
that our operations are safe,” said Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze in a
statement announcing the extension.
Lynas has to satisfy
several conditions, including transferring some work that generates
low-level radioactive waste to another country.
It must also identify a site to build a disposal facility for waste. – AFP - New Straits Times, 27/2/2020
Lynas’ licence renewed for another 3 years
PETALING JAYA: Lynas Malaysia’s licence has been renewed for another
three years till March 2023, the rare earths company has announced.
It said the renewal is subject to several conditions, including
developing its permanent disposal facility (PDF) within the first year
from the date of the approval.
Lynas must also submit a work development plan for the construction
of the PDF and report on its development status, as determined by the
Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).
The company has to ensure the cracking and leaching plant outside Malaysia is in operation before July 2023.
“After that period, Lynas will no longer be allowed to import raw
materials containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM)
into Malaysia.”
Lynas’ financial deposit, it also said, will continue to be held “for compliance with the relevant licence conditions”.
Earlier this month, reports said the government had agreed to renew Lynas Malaysia’s licence for another three years.
In January, Lynas said it had received consent from Pahang, where the plant is located, to build a storage facility.
In thanking AELB for renewing its licence, Lynas Corporation CEO and
managing director Amanda Lacaze said they are reaffirming their
commitment to “our people”, 97% of whom are Malaysians, as well as
contributing to the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.
“Over the past eight years, we have demonstrated that our operations
are safe and that we are an excellent foreign direct investor.
“We have created over 1,000 direct jobs, 90% of which are skilled or
semi-skilled, and we spend over RM600 million in the local economy each
year,” she said.
On Aug 15 last year, Putrajaya agreed to renew Lynas’ licence to
operate in the country for another six months, subject to several
conditions. - FMT, 27/2/2020
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