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Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Has Lynas been able to eliminate radioactive waste, asks ex-MP
Lynas said it has signed a non-binding MoU with Kelantan government's investment arm Menteri Besar Inc to negotiate a deal for the future supply of mixed rare-earths carbonate feedstock. (AP pic) PETALING JAYA : Malaysians must be given a clear update on the results of efforts by Australia's Lynas Rare Earths Ltd to eliminate its radioactive waste before the company can be allowed to expand its operations here, says a former DAP MP. Former Bentong MP Wong Tack criticised the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Lynas and Kelantan for the future supply of mixed rare-earths carbonate feedstock. He cited the reason given by science, technology and innovation minister Chang Lih Kang for the extension of Lynas's operating licence in October 2023, and the lack of updates since then. 'Lynas will extract thorium from their existing radioactive waste. Eventually, there will be no radioactive waste. 'This was the reason given and the promise made by the minister. Can the minister tell us what is the status of this 'experiment'?' he said in a statement. On May 30, Lynas announced that it had signed a non-binding MoU with Kelantan government's investment arm Menteri Besar Inc with a framework to negotiate a deal for the future supply of mixed rare-earths carbonate feedstock. In 2023, Chang had said the extension of Lynas's operating licence until March 2026 was contingent on the company ensuring the radioactive content in water leach purification (WLP) residue was below one becquerel per gramme. Items below 1Bq/g are not considered radioactive waste by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and do not come under the purview of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act. 'The decision of AELB is based on preliminary laboratory findings indicating that thorium radioactive elements can be extracted from WLP residues, allowing them to be released from legal controls under the AEL Act,' Chang had said. Wong derided Malaysian participation in the deal as being reflective of its politicians' 'mentality of colonisers'. 'Does our wealth in natural resources mean we should flip our entire country over so we can all be millionaires and let our children shoulder the consequences? 'Is this the only way our politicians can think of to build our country's economy: through the exploitation, extraction and destruction of our nation?' he said.
New Straits Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Lynas, Kelantan ink MoU to develop rare earths supply chain
KUALA LUMPUR: Lynas Rare Earths Ltd has entered into an agreement with the Kelantan state government for the supply of mixed rare earths carbonate (MREC). In a statement today, Lynas said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Menteri Besar Inc, the investment arm of the Kelantan state government, is non-binding and subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements. Under the MoU, Lynas and Menteri Besar Inc jointly seek to strengthen, promote and develop co-operation for the growth of the Malaysian rare earths industry in the state of Kelantan. It also provides a framework for Menteri Besar Inc and Lynas to negotiate a definitive agreement for the supply MREC feedstock to the Lynas Malaysia advanced materials plant in Kuantan once the project commences production. Lynas Rare Earths chief executive officer and managing director Amanda Lacaze said this is a significant step for Lynas and the Malaysian rare earths industry, bringing together Lynas Malaysia's over a decade of rare earths industry expertise, and Kelantan state's rare earth resources. She added that through Lynas, Malaysia is recognised as a rare earths centre of excellence. "This MoU will see us work with Menteri Besar Inc to develop Malaysia's locally sourced and separated rare earth products. "Malaysia's ionic clay deposits have excellent potential as future feedstocks for Lynas Malaysia, particularly given their high proportion of heavy rare earths which are in demand for future facing technologies including electric vehicles and electronics. "We look forward to working with MB Inc. to ensure that the MREC it produces meets the high environmental and technical standards required by Lynas and our customers in Malaysian and global manufacturing supply chains," she noted.
