An international panel of “independent experts” will be formed to carry out a conclusive study on the safety of the Lynas Advanced Material Plant in Gebeng, Pahang.

NONE International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said today that the panel will be formed “as soon as possible”, and is expected to present its findings within one month from the date it is formed.

Until the panel tables its report, Mustapa said the government will not issue any pre-operating licence to Lynas.

Lynas will also be prohibited from importing raw material during the period, while the government will review the plant’s operations, including the on-going construction.

Mustapa, however, was unable to drop even a hint on the identities of those who will be called to the panel nor would he say who will foot the bill, despite being repeatedly pressed for details.

“What is important is that they will be international, experts and independent. These are the three key elements,” he said at a press conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on the controversial project.

NONE Mustapa dodged questions on when exactly the panel will be formed, saying instead that the parties concerned have been in discussion and that the panel could materialise in the next few days.

He pointed out that from the time the project was approved in 2008 until now, the government had been “satisfied” with Lynas’ efforts in complying with the various requirements in ensuring the safety of the plant.

“Lynas has since proceeded to build its plant at Gebeng, and all work at the site (has) been continuously monitored by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and the Department of Environment.

“To date, both authorities have been satisfied that the company has met all health and safety requirements and the standards required  them,” he said.

azlan Mustapa stressed that despite Lynas’ full compliance with the country’s many requirements for such a project, the government decided to push for an independent panel to address the many concerns raised by the public and the media.

“Radiation and safety will form the core of the expertise, but it will also include other fields. It will be a multi-discipline panel... once the report is out the government of Malaysia and the state will decide (on whether or not to proceed),” he said.

On whether the panel’s report will be made public, Mustapa said: “I don’t see any harm in that.”

Mustapa noted that while the panel carries out its work, the government will continue to engage the public and hear out their fears and concerns over the project.

IAEA assistance sought

azlan At a separate press conference held immediately after Mustafa’s, AELB director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan said they are seeking the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to put together the panel, though he did not expand further on the point despite being asked repeatedly.

The ministry’s secretary-general Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria added that the government is looking at several options to fund the panel’s work, but declined to give more details.

She, however, pointed out that the public has nothing to fear as Lynas’ operations in Gebeng are effectively on hold until at least after the report is tabled.

“The plant is in the process of construction, but a building is just a building. Until the study is completed, we will not issue a pre-operational licence.

“The people are concerned about safety. As a civil servant myself I am concerned, so we must allay their fears with international experts. We have Raja Abdul Aziz who is himself an international expert, but since that is not enough (for the public) we will bring in international experts,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh urged the ministry to shelve Lynas’ proposed plant, stressing that there is no way to prove the company’s claims “on the green technology that they are going to use”.

She applauded Mustapa’s announcement that the plant’s operations will be put on hold for the time being, but pointed out that Kuantan residents insist that the project is stopped altogether.

“Currently we have no rare earth processing plant outside China. We do not have a world benchmark and certainly we do not wish to take China(‘s) lax practices or standards regarding rare earth processing at our benchmark.

“There’s too many reports written by experts from all over the world, on the dangers and hazards of rare earth processing,” she said in a statement today.

Fuziah, who is one of the few politicians who have vocally opposed the project, noted that there are no “best practice” guidelines in the rare earth industry, suggesting that Lynas instead set up a pilot processing plant at their Mount Weld mine in Western Australia.

“Lynas must provide our panel of experts with the ‘Proof of Concept’ before we can consider anything that Lynas wants to offer here in Malaysia.”

The PKR vice-president added that the proposed expert panel must include names recommended by the public.

“... the citizens of Kuantan will certainly monitor and scrutinise closely the next plan of action by Miti (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) as well as the government of Malaysia,” she said.

VIDEO: International panel to study Lynas plant