Zuraida to work with Pahang in the search for Lynas waste disposal site

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said today that her ministry would work with the Pahang government to find a suitable site for rare earths processing company Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s (Lynas) Permanent Disposal Facility (PDF) for its Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue.

The government has renewed Lynas’s licence for another six months, but with three conditions.

1. Lynas will have to move its cracking and leaching process, which is currently conducted at its plant in Gebeng, here, out of the country.

2. Lynas will have to identify a specific site to construct a PDF and to obtain written permission from the state government for the use of that site.

3. Lynas will have to end all research and development activities related to the use of the radioactive WLP residue as Condisoil in the field of agriculture.

"This (extension of Lynas’ operating licence) is a cabinet decision that was discussed and agreed upon. I am a cabinet member, so I must follow the decisions taken by the cabinet,” Zuraida said when asked by reporters about the matter in Pekan yesterday.

Earlier, she had attended the prize-giving ceremony for winners the Pahang Local Authorities Archery Championship at Arena Nahkota.

Lynas’ plant in Gebeng, Kuantan has been mired in controversy with some quarters wanting it out of the country while others are for it because of its economic spin-offs. 

The company itself has repeatedly stated that it complies with all safety standards.

In Kuantan. Beserah assemblyman Andansura Rabu said the conditions attached showed the government’s seriousness in addressing the issue.

As such, he called on all quarters to “stop the polemics” and give room to the company to comply with the conditions.

- Bernama