A researcher from the Germany-based think-tank Oeko Institute has dismissed Lynas’ plan to recycle the wastes from its rare earths refining processes as “nonsense” and not feasible.

NONEThe institute’s senior researcher and engineer Gerhard Schmidt said that even if the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (Lamp) dilutes its water leach purification (WLP) waste stream down to one part per hundred, its resulting radiation is still far above limits that are considered “beyond regulatory concern” (BRC, a radiation standard).

“Any hopes that any waste might be reused is scientifically and technically nonsense, and should not be followed,” he said during a teleconference from Darmstadt, Germany today.

He was speaking at the launch of his 114-page report on Lamp in Kuala Lumpur today, funded by the NGO Save Malaysia Stop Lynas (SMSL).

Schmidt (top photo, on screen) explained that Lynas’ planned dilution ratios of the wastes are unrealistic because it involves handling and careful mixing of vast amounts of material - over 120 million tonnes per year.

In his report, Schmidt also noted that to bring radiation within BRC limits, an even higher dilution ratio of one part per 500 is required.

BRC is defined as 10 microSieverts of radiation exposure per year, which he said is enough to raise cancer risks by one case per million persons.

NONEAs such, the water leach purification waste stream should not be released into the public even if diluted. A permanent enclosure in a waste disposal facility is the only viable option, the radioactive waste management expert said.

WLP is one of Lamp’s three waste streams and has the highest concentration of radioactive materials and other toxins.

The other two waste streams are known as flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) and neutralisation underflow residue (NUF).

Malaysiakini has already contacted Lynas Corporation for comment on the report and is awaiting its response.

For the reusability of FGD and NUF, Schmidt's report says that although it is feasible to dilute it to the point where it is radiologically safe, it remains to be seen if it could also remove traces of other toxins.

Lynas has previously said that it would not need a permanent disposal facility for its waste and has not identified a suitable site. This is because it intends to process it into commercial products, such as gypsum and base material for roads.

A litany of concerns

Other concerns Schmidt raised include:

  • The residue storage facility has only a single 30-centimetre thick layer of clay and a one-millimetre high density polyethylene lining to hold the water leach purification waste in storage and is insufficient to prevent leakages, and even Germany's minimum standards for holding municipal waste is about twice as thick.
  • There is no published data about the nature of the water that may seep through the residue storage facility, thus making it difficult to ascertain the possible extent of environmental damage.
  • The water leach purification waste needs to be ‘pre-dried' before being placed in the residue storage facility, but frequent rains would make this difficult. Lynas did not foresee this and now has to develop ‘ad hoc solutions', which Schmidt fears would increase workers' exposure to radiation.
  • Lamp's gas filters are not state-of-the art and would not adequately reduce sulphuric acid and dust emissions.
  • Malaysia's laws on air quality need to be improved because "it neither reflects improved knowledge on adverse toxicological effects, nor does it encourage improved technical capabilities to reduce emissions.
  • Lamp's wastewater that is discharged into Balok River has high salt content, mostly calcium chloride, which is unacceptable because it can be accessed by humans and animals along its 3.5-kilometre path. A pipeline should have been used.
  • Specific constituents of the wastewater, some of which would be toxic, are not mentioned even in Lamp's preliminary environmental impact assessment report, making it impossible to ascertain its impact.

Schmidt and SMSL said the report was based an assessment of Lynas' own documents, which SMSL compiled and then furnished to Schmidt. However, Schmidt maintained that his evaluation is independent of SMSL.

No data on toxic by-products

When asked if the he had visited the plant, he said he did not because there is "no urgent need" to do so and the documents from SMSL are sufficient.

"Where the radiological constituents are concerned, we know everything that is necessary to evaluate the consequences.

"The radioactive constituents are very well known, are completely known, and the data provided in Lynas' documents is enough to do the environmental impact assessment. There is no uncertainty beyond a factor of two or three, which is usually acceptable in those calculations.

"What is less known is the toxic by-products. This is an area where the data is really missing and no documents were found," he said.

He also rubbished claims that the plant needs to be running to test the radioactive content of its by-products because such data can be easily calculated.

NONETo a question, SMSL chairperson Tan Bun Teet (right) claimed that the report is peer-reviewed by other experts.

He also vowed to disseminate the report widely. It will be used to help defend SMSL in court, for advocacy among concerned citizens and to lobby Lynas' customers as well as the government.

"The government has been saying that whatever we have been saying against Lynas is not scientific or logical basis. Now, this report proves otherwise," he said.