Dubious plan by Lynas to sell 300,000 tonnes of converted radioactive wastes

The anti-Lynas groups also questioned today whether the market “can fully absorb the colossal amount produced given that Lynas will be producing at least 300,000 tonnes of contaminated waste every year.”

Locals say market won’t buy Lynas’ recycled waste, ww.themalaysianinsider.com/mobile/malaysia/article/locals-say-market-wont-buy-lynas-recycled-waste/ The Malaysian Insider ,21 April,  By Shannon Teoh KUALA LUMPUR, — Lynas Corp’s plans to recycle waste from its controversial RM2.5 billion rare earth plant in Kuantan into a commercial product will not be accepted by the market, local residents opposed to the refinery said today.(Jan 26 )

The Stop Lynas Coalition (SLC) and Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL) groups said in a joint submission to the government that the synthetic gypsum the Australian miner hopes to produces from its waste is the subject of an international safety campaign due to radiation fears.

“The use of phospho-gypsum plaster-board and plaster cement in buildings as a substitute for natural gypsum may constitute an additional source of radiation exposure to both workers and members of the public,” the document quoted from Internet-based environmental organisation Zero Waste America.
“The American Gypsum Association does not accept gypsum made with contaminated materials. Contaminated gypsum in the USA has resulted in a class action against the supplier and the importers,” the groups said.

The two residents groups presented the document today after the end of
the public viewing and feedback period for Lynas’ long-term waste
management plan that must be approved by regulators before it begins
operations.
Local residents and environmentalists have criticised Lynas Corp for
not having a long-term waste management plan and claimed the company
would store radioactive waste onsite, which is about 2km from the
nearest residential area.
But Lynas has said a permanent depository facility (PDF) for
radioactive waste from its controversial rare earth plant will only be
needed in a “worst-case scenario” where it is unable to reprocess its
waste into commercial products.
According to Lynas, refining rare earth ore from Mount Weld, West
Australia will result in three forms of residue, two of which have a
radiation level of below 1 Becquerel per gramme (Bq/g) which is
considered non-radioactive and outside of regulatory control by both
international and local authorities.
It plans to recycle these two wastes into synthetic gypsum and
fertiliser although the process has not been finalised.
However, its water leach purification (WLP) residue is projected to
have a radiation level of 6 Bq/g, regarded as “very low-level”
radioactive waste.
But Lynas, which received an additional funding boost of RM700 million
this week through the sale of bonds, says it is “very confident” it
can dilute the WLP to below 1 Bq/g to be used as a base in road
building.
The anti-Lynas groups also questioned today whether the market “can fully absorb the colossal amount produced given that Lynas will be producing at least 300,000 tonnes of contaminated waste every year.”
Putrajaya bowed to public pressure in April after sustained opposition
from local residents and environmentalists due to fears of radiation
pollution and put the project on ice pending a review by international
experts.
In July, the government agency adopted 11 recommendations set out by
the review and said it would not allow Lynas to begin operations or
import rare earth ore until all conditions, which include a
comprehensive, long-term and detailed plan for managing radioactive
waste, are met.
According to Lynas, regulators Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB)
will meet on January 30 to decide on whether to issue a pre-operating
licence which will be followed by a full licence within two years if
the plant meets safety requirements outlined in its application.
Lynas is anticipating a windfall of RM8 billion a year from 2013
onwards from the manufacture of rare earth metals that are crucial to
the manufacture of high-technology products such as smartphones,
hybrid cars and bombs.

ww.themalaysianinsider.com/mobile/malaysia/article/locals-say-market-wont-buy-lynas-recycled-waste/

April 21, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Uranium, wastes