nuclear-news

Malaysian govt insists that Lynas might have to take its radioactive wastes back to Australia

The  Temporary Operating License  will only be issued after Lynas  fulfils two new conditions imposed 

AELB: Lynas committed to returning radioactive waste to AustraliaThe Malaysian Insider By Lisa J. Ariffin June 28, DENGKIL, June 28 — Lynas is committed to return all potentially harmful waste from its rare earths plant here to Australia despite its government’s firm refusal to take it in, Malaysia’s radiation regulator said today.

The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB)  told reporters today the Australian miner would have to send home all residue that could not be turned into commercial products or if a location for a permanent disposal facility (PDF) here could not be determined or approved.

“Lynas will have 10 months to come up with a permanent disposal facility plan for its radioactive residue upon receiving its temporary operating license (TOL),”  said Dr Noor Hasnah Mohamed Khairullah who is special adviser to the AELB director-general.

“If they fail to find a location for the PDF, or if the plan is not approved, then Lynas has to return the residues back to Australia. We have spoken to them. They are very committed,” she added.

However, Noor Hasnah said the TOL will only be issued after Lynas
fulfils two new conditions imposed by Science, Technology and
Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) Minister Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili
recently.

“The TOL will only be issued after Lynas complies with all the
conditions including the two new conditions,” she said, adding the
conditions set forth by Ongkili would require Lynas to submit a plan
to immobilise radioactive elements in its waste, and to come up with
an emergency response plan on dust control.

“So far out of license conditions, they have yet to meet the two
additional conditions set by the minister, the rest they have already
met,” she explained.

She added there was no time frame for the rare earth miner to submit
its proposals, and that it was “up to Lynas when they will
submit”…….
Previously, the AELB had said if Lynas Corp could recycle all its
waste from the RM2.5 billion plant in Kuantan as planned, then it
would not matter if the PDF proposal was rejected.

The government had insisted on the PDF, an additional requirement over
standard regulations, as a backup in case of a “worst-case
scenario”…….
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/aelb-lynas-committed-to-returning-radioactive-waste-to-australia

June 29, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, Malaysia, politics international, Uranium, wastes