The waste management plan of Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) has become one of the major concerns of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as it was advised to make clear its final disposal site for its radioactive waste.

“The waste management plan should be based on realistic scenarios including, if considered appropriate, the identification of a final disposal site.”

This was one of the four recommendations from the IAEA after a four-day visit to the controversial rare-earth plant at Gebeng, Pahang, as the follow-up mission to conduct an independent review of the plant.

In a press statement released today, the IAEA found that good progress had been made in implementing the recommendations made during 2011 based on its preliminary observations.

The agency also put the radiological risks of the plant as low because of the very low level of radioactivity of the materials processed by the plant.

However, the IAEA also came out with some advice to Lynas as well as the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), which among others are:
  • The waste management plan should be based on realistic scenarios including, if considered appropriate, the identification of a final disposal site.
  •  Environmental monitoring activities should be optimised to ensure resources are focused on the most important areas, including enhancing monitoring of liquid discharges.
  • The basis of the financial fund to be paid by Lynas for long-term waste management and decommissioning should be communicated more clearly.
  • The AELB and Lynas are encouraged to maintain a proactive approach to relations with the media, public and other stakeholders, on an ongoing basis, to address continuing widespread misconceptions about the plant and radiation issues in general.
According to IAEA, its mission’s final report will be submitted to the Malaysian government at the end of October, and will be made public.

Waste disposal sites not suggested

The IAEA had conduct a mission to the plant in 2011 and made an 11-point recommendation, including the need for Lynas to submit its long-term plans for waste management to the AELB.

The AELB had issued the two-year temporary operationg license (TOL) to Lynas on Sept 3, 2012 with five conditions, including the disclosure of the permanent disposal facility (PDF) of the radioactive waste.

However, former AELB director-general Raja Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan (right) had confirmed that Lynas’ PDF proposal submitted to the board did not include the location of the intended waste facility.

Despite strong objections by anti-Lynas groups and the opposition, AELB had issued a two-year Full Operating State Licence to Lynas, on the grounds that the rare-earth plant had fulfilled all the TOL conditions.


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