Further Delays In Lynas Plant Operation In Malaysia

Protesters are afraid of radioactive waste

THE AUSTRALIAN (SYDNEY) - Lynas in Malaysia is facing further challenges as a Malaysian court has postponed  until 10 October 2012 a hearing on a temporary operating license granted to the Australian miner for a rare earths plant . This court rule further delays the start of operations at the USD800 million facility, which has been opposed by green activists and concerns about radiation. Lynas received the temporary operating license in early September 2012 but Kuantan High Court in eastern Pahang state, where the plant is located, put it on hold later that month after an appeal by protesters. The objective of activists and local residents is to shut down the plant - the biggest outside China - which has emerged as a controversial issue in the campaign for next year national elections. The plant will process material from Lynas' Mount Weld mine in Western Australia. Lynas claims that the plant is safe, and any radioactive waste it produces will only be low-level and not harmful to human health.  Source: Hearing On Lynas Malaysia Plant Postponed (Reliability: Medium)

Comment:  In spite of close relations to Malaysian ruling political parties, Lynas could not open it's processing plant because of public protests. Widespread protests can endanger future rare earths processing plants all over the world.