LYNAS CORP LTD, LYNAS MALAYSIA, LETTER REGARDING AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT RESEARCH PAPER
Posted on May 28, 2011 by simonthongwh|
Parliament of Australia research paper no. 11 2007-08
1 WHOM DO WE BELIEVE – LYNAS OR THE PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA
Lynas has claimed that their rare earth from Mt Weld is from lanthanide ore, which is naturally low in thorium.
On the other hand a research paper by the Australian Parliament claimed otherwise.
This information leaves the concerned citizens of Kuantan very worried of the situation that’s pending should AELB decide to issue license to operate. Thus I urge the authorities especially AELB to look into this matter into more detail. Also for the authorities to consult other experts to provide input on this matter.
Below is an extract from a research paper by the Parliament of Australia:
Under the Laws of Malaysia Act 304, Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984
1)The levels of naturally occurring Thorium from the Lynas Mount Weld mine in Australia is not considered low, as claimed by Lynas. According to the Parliament of Australia research paper no. 11 2007-08, the main source of Thorium in Australia is the mineral monazite which is a reddish-brown rare-earth phosphate mineral and that contains 8–10 per cent Thorium. Based on Lynas Target capacity of 22,000 tons per year rare earth, the Thorium residue in Gebeng is a whopping 1760 tons to 2200 tons, and this will be the amount of radioactive waste/residue generated by Lynas in Gebeng.
Note*
[*From amang (tahi bijih) we can get monozite (used in ARE 6% Th), illmenite, xenotime and zirconium.*]
2)The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency OECD/NEA and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has compiled estimates of Thorium resources on a country-by-country basis. And, Australia is World Ranking Number 1 in Thorium resources. There are technical issues yet to be resolved before a Thorium-based fuel cycle can become common. Australia government concluded in the research paper that, even if the technical issues can be resolved there are still residual environment concern in the mining, handling and storage of radioactive materials.
3)Therefore, 1760 tons to 2200 tons of Thorium generated by Lynas in Gebeng every year will become radioactive waste/residue to be dumped here in Kuantan by the Australian. And, Lynas claim that it will place funds with the Malaysian government to ensure safe management of radioactive waste/residue is illegal and against the laws of Malaysia under Act 304, Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984
Reference – Parliament of Australia Research paper:
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/2007-08/08rp11.pdf
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Posted by Dr. Joyce Lee at 6:14 PM
2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The media release is sending on behalf of MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President YB Fuziah Salleh for publishing the letter from Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to Lynas CEO Nick Curtis over LAMP (Lynas Advanced Materials Plant) issues in Gebeng, Malaysia. Senator Scott questions Lynas about the appropriateness of environmental monitoring and safety measures, as well as LAMP’s long-term storage of radioactive thorium waste – that could damage the livelihood, health of the local people and the local environment.
Kuantan, Pahang, 14 April 2011
Thanks & Regards,
Dr. Joyce Lee
Letter from Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to Lynas CEO Nick Curtis Over LAMP Issues
Nick Curtis
Chief Executive Officer
Lynas Corporation
PO Box 1884
Osborne Park BC
Western Australia 6916
Dear Mr Curtis,
I write to express my concerns about reports that Lynas Corporation is pursuing project in Malaysia that will not be subject to appropriate environmental monitoring and regulation.
The rare earth project, known as LAMP (Lynas Advanced Materials Plant), has raised fears amongst local people in Malaysia. It has been claimed that through a technical flaw in the relevant section of Malaysian law, no Environmental Impact Assessment was required for the project despite the radioactive wastes and hazardous chemicals involved.
The proposed Kuantan site is near a deep water port and is also close to the state’s major fishing grounds and coastal resorts. The area is densely populated and there are many fishing villages in the vicinity. Fishery and coastal and marine tourism are major sources of livelihoods for the local people and many have participated in protests against the project.
I appreciate that rare earth metals have become increasingly important for high‐tech manufacturing, but, as the people of Malaysia are all too acutely aware, refining rare earth ore usually leaves thousands of tons of low‐level radioactive waste behind. The last rare earth refinery in Malaysia, operated by Mitsubishi Chemical, is now one of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.
However, the Malaysian government has demonstrated a noticeable level of enthusiasm for this project, even offering a 12‐year tax ‘holiday’, though I understand it is expected the refinery will generate $1.7 billion a year in exports starting late next year, equal to nearly one per cent of the entire Malaysian economy.
While rare earths are not radioactive themselves almost every rare earth ore deposit around the world contains thorium. One concern is; what will become of the radioactive by‐products produced at the plant? Building 12 acres of “interim” lined storage pools was one of the pledges your company made to secure permission to put the refinery in an area already environmentally damaged by the chemical plants that line the Balok River but the question of the long‐term storage of the Lynas plant’s radioactive thorium waste remains unresolved.
The Australian Greens would greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the safety measures being taken by Lynas to ensure this project represents no threat to the local environment or the local people and their livelihoods. Please contact my office as soon as possible to discuss the matter.
Regards,
Scott Ludlam
Senator for Western Australia
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Posted by Dr. Joyce Lee at 5:04 AM
LYNAS ANSUTRALIA WILL BE THE HEALTH KILLER OF MANY, ESPECIALLY IN PAHANG STATE AS MANY WILL SUFFER AND BE VICTIMS.
NEGERI RACUN IS THE NEW NAME FOR THIS STATE????
集中火力反稀土廠計劃‧18組織設阻萊納聯盟
Posted on September 27, 2011 by admin
國內
2011-09-25 10:47
傅芝雅（左4）與各組織代表於新聞發佈會上，宣佈?阻止萊納聯盟?的成立。前排左起：公正黨代表丘福泉、關丹人民關心協會成員陳文傑、主席邱鼎坤；右起：巴洛反稀土組織副主席莫哈末耶谷，以及再也巴南醫生。（圖：星洲日報）
（彭亨‧關丹24日訊）國內18個具影響力的非政府組織及黨團，今日在關丹正式設立”阻止萊納聯盟”（Stop Lynas Coalition），以集合各方力量，阻止格賓稀土廠計劃投入操作。
公正黨關丹國會議員傅芝雅今日與各組織代表召開新聞發佈會，宣佈這項消息時指出，加入這項聯盟 的包括：巴洛反稀土組織（BADAR）、檳城消費人協會、大馬環保之友、拯救馬來西亞委員會、綠潮、彭亨律師公會、大馬醫藥協會、關丹環境監監督小組、人 民綠色聯盟、堅道浸信會、英文牧師團、關丹浸信教會、檳州人民福利與教育協會、關丹電子網絡研究團、回教黨英迪拉馬哥打區部、公正黨英迪拉馬哥打區部、公 正黨關丹區部，以及大馬自由人民運動。
她表示，上述18個組織總共派出28名代表，在關丹召開”阻止萊納策略研究工作坊”，經過4個小時討論，各方達致協議組成這個聯盟。
“這些盟友組織將結合各自的人力物力、影響力及資源，專注於反稀土鬥爭，而大家的精誠合作，也將為反稀土民間運動增加許多力量與價值。”
“阻止萊納聯盟的盟友將以關丹的組織為主力團，外圍（外州）組織為支援團，合作進行各種策略，包括通過教育、宣傳、法律管道及技術層面以達致目標。我們將草擬為期6個月的短期策略，以及長達數年的鬥爭方向，務必達到稀土廠關閉的目標後才罷休。”
她表示，?阻止萊納聯盟?將全力配合全國綠色委員會，號召全民參與10月9日在關丹哥羅樂舉行的《地球憲章》活動，即?10.9綠色萬人大集會?。
http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/220778?tid=1
