WHOM DO WE BELIEVE – LYNAS OR THE PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA

MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President, YB Fuziah Salleh



The media release is sending on behalf of MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President YB Fuziah Salleh to repudiate claim by Lynas that the lanthanide ore (rare earth) from Mt Weld is naturally low in thorium which is in contradiction to a research paper by the Australian Parliament. Also, statements made by both Lynas and AELB in licence application contradict each other (please find the attached Sinar Harian paper cutting). YB Fuziah therefore, advises AELB and the relevant authorities to delve into more details and to seek other experts’ advices before issuing licence to operate.

Kuantan, Pahang, 15 April 2011

Thanks & Regards,
Dr. Joyce Lee

WHOM DO WE BELIEVE – LYNAS OR THE PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA

Lynas has claimed that their rare earth from Mt Weld is from lanthanide ore, which is naturally low in thorium.

On the other hand a research paper by the Australian Parliament claimed otherwise.

This information leaves the concerned citizens of Kuantan very worried of the situation that’s pending should AELB decide to issue license to operate. Thus I urge the authorities especially AELB to look into this matter into more detail. Also for the authorities to consult other experts to provide input on this matter.

Below is an extract from a research paper by the Parliament of Australia:

Under the Laws of Malaysia Act 304, Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984

1)The levels of naturally occurring Thorium from the Lynas Mount Weld mine in Australia is not considered low, as claimed by Lynas. According to the Parliament of Australia research paper no. 11 2007-08, the main source of Thorium in Australia is the mineral monazite which is a reddish-brown rare-earth phosphate mineral and that contains 8–10 per cent Thorium. Based on Lynas Target capacity of 22,000 tons per year rare earth, the Thorium residue in Gebeng is a whopping 1760 tons to 2200 tons, and this will be the amount of radioactive waste/residue generated by Lynas in Gebeng.

Note*
[*From amang (tahi bijih) we can get monozite (used in ARE 6% Th), illmenite, xenotime and zirconium.*]

2)The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency OECD/NEA and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has compiled estimates of Thorium resources on a country-by-country basis. And, Australia is World Ranking Number 1 in Thorium resources. There are technical issues yet to be resolved before a Thorium-based fuel cycle can become common. Australia government concluded in the research paper that, even if the technical issues can be resolved there are still residual environment concern in the mining, handling and storage of radioactive materials.

3)Therefore, 1760 tons to 2200 tons of Thorium generated by Lynas in Gebeng every year will become radioactive waste/residue to be dumped here in Kuantan by the Australian. And, Lynas claim that it will place funds with the Malaysian government to ensure safe management of radioactive waste/residue is illegal and against the laws of Malaysia under Act 304, Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984

Reference – Parliament of Australia Research paper:

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/2007-08/08rp11.pdf