Lynas steers clear of sinking ‘bauxite barge’

Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd is up in arms over social media postings linking the company to a viral video of a sinking barge purportedly containing bauxite.

In a statement today, Lynas stated that the authorities have since claimed the incident in question did not take place in waters off Kuantan, and that the mineral on the barge was nickel ore, not bauxite.

The rare earths separation plant company also asserted that it does not mine bauxite or nickel ore.

“Bauxite and nickel ore are not rare earths and Lynas does not mine any material in Malaysia. All material imported and exported from the Lynas plant is packaged in containers,” Lynas stated.

The company further decried what it called a “pattern of disinformation” allegedly promoted by anti-Lynas activists.

Kuantan Port chief operating officer Mazlim Husin and Beserah assemblyperson Andansura Rabu had on Saturday, reportedly denied that the incident seen in a viral video - in which a barge laden with red soil broke in half in the middle of the sea and sunk - occurred off Kuantan port.

Mazlim claimed the video was recorded in a “foreign country”.

On Saturday, the New Straits Times reported that the incident had taken place off the waters of Sulawesi. However, when the incident happened is still not known.