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Australian rare earths company Lynas facing further uncertainty in its Malaysian project

Activists and local residents have vowed to shut the plant – the biggest outside China – which has emerged as a controversial issue in the country’s national elections

 opposition politicians and environmentalists have expressed fears that radioactive waste it produces can seep into the ground and water, harming the environment and people’s health.

Hearing on Lynas Malaysia plant postponed http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/hearing-on-lynas-malaysia-plant-postponed/story-fn3dxix6-1226488399907 THE AUSTRALIAN  AAP October 04, 2012  A MALAYSIAN court has postponed until next week a hearing on a temporary operating licence granted to Australian miner Lynas Corp for a rare earths plant, an activist says.

Thursday’s decision to postpone hearing to next Wednesday further delays the start of operations at the $US800 million ($A786.82 million) facility, which has been dogged by environmental protests and concerns about radiation.
Lynas secured the operating licence in early September but Kuantan High Court in eastern Pahang state, where the plant is based, put it on hold later that month after an appeal by activists.

Environmental group Save Malaysia Stop Lynas, which is spearheading
the case against the miner, said its lawyers on Thursday called for
the hearing at the Kuantan court to be delayed so they could answer
affidavits filed by Lynas. “The court has postponed the hearing to
October 10. The interim stay on the temporary operating licence
continues until that date,” group spokesman Tan Bun Teet told AFP.

The court was expected to rule on the application by three individuals
to permanently stay the operating licence at next week’s hearing, he
said.

Activists and local residents have vowed to shut the plant – the
biggest outside China – which has emerged as a controversial issue in
the country’s national elections, which must be held by the middle of
next year…… The plant will process material from Lynas’ Mount Weld
mine in Western Australia.

Lynas has insisted the plant is safe, and any radioactive waste it
produces will only be low-level and not harmful to human health.

But opposition politicians and environmentalists have expressed fears that radioactive waste it produces can seep into the ground and water, harming the environment and people’s health.

October 5, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA