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

Letter from Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to Lynas CEO Nick Curtis Over LAMP Issues

MP Kuantan YB Fuziah Salleh

Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The media release is sending on behalf of MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President YB Fuziah Salleh for publishing the letter from Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to Lynas CEO Nick Curtis over LAMP (Lynas Advanced Materials Plant) issues in Gebeng, Malaysia. Senator Scott questions Lynas about the appropriateness of environmental monitoring and safety measures, as well as LAMP’s long-term storage of radioactive thorium waste – that could damage the livelihood, health of the local people and the local environment.

Kuantan, Pahang, 14 April 2011

Thanks & Regards,
Dr. Joyce Lee

Letter from Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to Lynas CEO Nick Curtis Over LAMP Issues

Nick Curtis
Chief Executive Officer
Lynas Corporation
PO Box 1884
Osborne Park BC
Western Australia 6916

Dear Mr Curtis,

I write to express my concerns about reports that Lynas Corporation is pursuing project in Malaysia that will not be subject to appropriate environmental monitoring and regulation.

The rare earth project, known as LAMP (Lynas Advanced Materials Plant), has raised fears amongst local people in Malaysia. It has been claimed that through a technical flaw in the relevant section of Malaysian law, no Environmental Impact Assessment was required for the project despite the radioactive wastes and hazardous chemicals involved.

The proposed Kuantan site is near a deep water port and is also close to the state’s major fishing grounds and coastal resorts. The area is densely populated and there are many fishing villages in the vicinity. Fishery and coastal and marine tourism are major sources of livelihoods for the local people and many have participated in protests against the project.

I appreciate that rare earth metals have become increasingly important for high‐tech manufacturing, but, as the people of Malaysia are all too acutely aware, refining rare earth ore usually leaves thousands of tons of low‐level radioactive waste behind. The last rare earth refinery in Malaysia, operated by Mitsubishi Chemical, is now one of Asia’s largest radioactive waste cleanup sites.

However, the Malaysian government has demonstrated a noticeable level of enthusiasm for this project, even offering a 12‐year tax ‘holiday’, though I understand it is expected the refinery will generate $1.7 billion a year in exports starting late next year, equal to nearly one per cent of the entire Malaysian economy.

While rare earths are not radioactive themselves almost every rare earth ore deposit around the world contains thorium. One concern is; what will become of the radioactive by‐products produced at the plant? Building 12 acres of “interim” lined storage pools was one of the pledges your company made to secure permission to put the refinery in an area already environmentally damaged by the chemical plants that line the Balok River but the question of the long‐term storage of the Lynas plant’s radioactive thorium waste
remains unresolved.

The Australian Greens would greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the safety measures being taken by Lynas to ensure this project represents no threat to the local environment or the local people and their livelihoods. Please contact my office as soon as possible to discuss the matter.

Regards,
Scott Ludlam
Senator for Western Australia

Rare earth: Australian politician and academician back MP Kuantan YB Fuziah Salleh

Free Malaysia Today
K Pragalath
April 14, 2011

An Australian politician has urged the Western Australian premier to stop Lynas Corporation from exporting radioactive material to Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: An Australian politician has come out in support of Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh against the rare earth plant project being undertaken in Pahang.

Robin Chapple, who is a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, expressed grave concerns about the shipment of radioactive thorium from the Western Australian town of Kiwana to Malaysia for processsing.

He added that West Australians were very much aware of the consequences of such processing.

“I am deeply worried that Lynas plans to remove only the bare minimum of thorium from its rare earth product, apparently so as not to trigger special export licence requirements for hazardous material,” Chapple, a Greens Party member, said in his letter to Fuziah.

“The current intent is to ship the material in sealed bags, which is similar to how (Lynas) exports its lead in Magellan bags through Fremantle (Western Australia).”

(Magellan bags are radioactive material waste bags.)

Australian mining giant, Lynas Corporation Limited, will be operating the massive processing plant being constructed in Gebeng, Kuantan, to produce metals used in products such as Apple’s iPhone, Toyota’s Prius and Boeing’s smart bombs.

Toxic by-products

Lynas Corporation is operating an ore mining plant in Mount Weld, located 35km south of Laverton, Western Australia.

“I would think that the Kiwana community living along the transport route would have something to say about a radioactive substance being shipped through their area in this manner,” Chapple said.

He also shared similar fears with the residents in Kuantan who are objecting to the construction of the processing plant.

“I have been in touch with community groups in Malaysia who have no desire to see Western Australia’s toxic by-products dumped on their villages.

“The Member of Parliament for Kuantan has called for any thorium refined from the exported material to be returned to Australia.”

“Perhaps because of this, the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing Board has yet to receive a pre-operation licence application from Lynas Corporation.”

He also urged Lynas Corporation to process the thorium at its Mount Weld mining site instead of transferring it to Kuantan.

He also said his Greens Party would be meeting Lynas Corporation representatives to discuss the issue.

Responsible decision

Chapple added that the media in Western Australia and Malaysia are observing whether both governments are making “a responsible decision as to how this mine (Mount Weld) is operated and how its product will be exported”.

Chapple also gave an assurance that the Western Australian government, led by Prime Minister Colin Barnett, does not want to burden any parties by transporting or dumping radioactive waste elsewhere.

“The Barnett government surely does not want to be complicit in the transport of radioactive materials through Kiwana. Barnett has stated repeatedly that he does not wish to see uranium exported from Western Australian ports.”

“I would hope that he does not want to also be complicit in the dumping of radioactive waste in another country,” Chapple said.

He urged Barnett to “compel Lynas to ensure that no thorium leaves the Mount Weld mining site”.

The rare earth processing plant has received the green light from Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. The Pahang government has also given the nod for the commencement of the project.

However, the project has been receiving a lot of flak from Fuziah, residents and NGOs. The residents of Gebeng have also protested against the plant at Parliament last month.

Doubts over thorium content

In another development, an Australian academic was skeptical of the low figures quoted by Lynas on the annual radiation exposure of its workers and said he had expected the figures to be much higher.

Dr Gavin Mudd, a senior lecturer for Environmental Engineering at Monash University, Melbourne, said the main point of concern posed by local experts was that all radiation exposure was cumulative and added up over a lifetime.

He also said raised doubts on the thorium content as claimed by Lynas.

“Claims that rare earth ore imported from Australia had a low thorium content were a way to downplay the significance of such issues” he said.

Lynas claimed that the thorium contained in its ore is 50 times lower than what was in the tin tailings used in the now closed Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah, Ipoh.

“The main question is the natural concentration in the area used for ore processing and waste disposal. (The average thorium content in the Mt Weld ore) is almost certainly higher than background or natural soil concentrations,” said Mudd.

The media release is sending on behalf of MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President YB Fuziah Salleh for Senior Lecturer for Environmental Engineering at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, Dr Gavin Mudd to refute Lynas’s attempt to “downplay the significance of rare earth processing and disposal issues” in Gebeng, Pahang.

Kuantan, Pahang, 14 April 2011

Thanks & Regards,

Dr. Joyce Lee

Analysis of Lynas - Mt Weld Rare Earth

Statement by: Dr Gavin Mudd – senior lecturer for Environmental Engineering at Monash University, Melbourne.

Dr Mudd said: “Claims that rare earth ore imported from Australia had a low thorium content were a way ‘to downplay the significance of such issues’. Lynas claimed that the thorium contained in its ore is 50 times lower than what was in the tin tailings used in the now closed Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah, Ipoh.”

“The main question is the natural concentration in the area used for ore processing and waste disposal. (The average thorium content in the Mt Weld ore) is almost certainly higher than background or natural soil concentrations,” said Dr Mudd.

He was also skeptical of the low figures quoted by Lynas on the annual radiation exposure of its workers and said he had expected the figures to be much higher.

Dr Mudd reiterated the main point of concern posed by local experts that all radiation exposure was cumulative and added up over a lifetime.

RADIOACTIVE SHIPMENTS TO MALAYSIA COULD BE ANOTHER MAGELLAN: GREENS

MEDIA RELEASE By Hon Robin Chapple:

The media release is sending on behalf of MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President YB Fuziah Salleh for Greens MLC Hon Robin Chapple (Western Australia) to call on the Australian government to force Lynas to ensure no thorium leaves the Mt. Weld mine site – one of the efforts by YB Fuziah to stop the controversial Australian Lynas rare earth operations in Kuantan.

Kuantan, Pahang, 13 April 2011

Dr. Joyce Lee

RADIOACTIVE SHIPMENTS TO MALAYSIA COULD BE ANOTHER MAGELLAN: GREENS

Greens MLC Robin Chapple today expressed grave concerns over the proposed shipment of material containing radioactive thorium through Kwinana for processing in Malaysia.

“I am deeply worried that the proposed Lynas Mount Weld operation plans to remove only the bare minimum of thorium from its rare earth product, apparently so as not to trigger special export license requirements for hazardous material,” Mr. Chapple said.

“The current intent is to ship the material in sealed bags which is similar to how Magellan bags its lead when exporting through Fremantle. Western Australians have seen what can occur when this method is used.”

“I would think that people living along the transport route and the Kwinana community would have something to say about a radioactive substance being shipped through their communities in this manner.”

Mr. Chapple has also condemned plans by Lynas to strip out and dump the radioactive material near fishing communities in the Malaysian state of Kuantan, citing widespread community and political opposition in that country to the refine-and-dump proposal.

“I have been in touch with community groups in Malaysia and that country’s press and there is no desire there to see Western Australia’s toxic by-products dumped on local villages. The Member of Parliament for Kuantan has called for any Thorium refined from the exported material to be returned to Australia.”

“Perhaps because of this, the Malaysian Atomic Energy Licensing has yet to receive a pre-operation licence application from Lynas Corporation.”

“I believe that Lynas needs to look at a process where the thorium does not leave the Mount Weld mine site in the first place.”

“The Greens are seeking clarification from Lynas as to its intentions in this regard and hope to meet with the company shortly do discuss our concerns.”

“The people of Kuantan are watching Western Australia very closely on this. The Malaysian media and the international media are watching to see if the State and Commonwealth governments make a responsible decision as to how this mine is operated and how its product will be exported.”

“The Barnett Government surely does not want to be complicit in the transport of radioactive materials through Kwinana, having stated repeatedly that he does not wish to see uranium exported from Western Australian ports.”

“I would hope that he does not want to also be complicit in the dumping of radioactive waste in another country.”

“The Premier must take action to compel Lynas to ensure that no thorium leaves the Mt. Weld mine site.”

Robin Chapple

Don’t Turn Kuantan Into A Dead City

Fuziah explained the risks of having Lynas rare earth processing plant in Pahang Kuantan

April 12 — During the Information Session on Rare Earth Plant Issues held by MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President Fuziah Salleh in Air Putih, Kuantan, a 60 years old resident, Chow Kok Chew broke into tears when sharing his past experience about the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) processing plant in Bukit Merah, Perak. Chow’s grief and fear for the rare earth troubles aroused sad emotion in Fuziah and the approximately 300 audiences, MP and many residents were sobbing together.

30 years ago, the ARE processing plant caused Chow took 10 family members to flee Bukit Merah for Kuantan. He had never thought that the rare earth processing plant will be operating soon in Kuantan – they are facing with the same fate and fear again.

"In the past, when I got off work every day, I was startled to see the yellow smoke emitted from the ARE processing plant in Bukit Merah," Chow said. He said at that time, his family was staying in Mengelembu, about a kilometre away from Bukit Merah. Soon after the plant in operation, cattle raised by the local were found dead after eating the grass nearby, and then more and more people were affected.

He hopes all the people in Kuantan will be united to voice out against the rare earth project. “I don’t want to move! I don’t have another 30 years, and I want to fight together with the residents in Kuantan. Don’t turn Kuantan into a dead city,” Chow said.

Fuziah responded to Chow in a tearful voice: "I feel your sadness, I have heard the voices of the people in Kuantan, and we do not want a recurrence of Bukit Merah."

Chow told the reporters those who have not experienced the Bukit Merah tragedy will not feel the immediate pain. Therefore, he hopes to stand together with the people in Kuantan to oppose the Lynas project, otherwise he will feel sorry for his family and descendant.

Chow further suggested Pakatan Rakyat leaders to stand up and speak for the people, not just letting Fuziah to fight alone.

Fuziah has 3 responsive plans – “the people to jointly protest”

According to Fuziah, she has three plans to deal with the rare earth project in Gebeng. She said, plan A is to continue educating the people, to explain the risks of having rare earth processing plant, and to collect public opinion.

"If plan A is ineffective, plan B needs the help of non-governmental organizations and media to jointly disseminate information about the issues, so to attract the attention of Greenpeace International, to further exert pressure on the government.

“If the above suggested plans are fruitless, plan C is to organize a sit-in protest at the plant,” she said.

At the same time, Fuziah disclosed Deputy Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Datuk Fadillah Yusof will meet the people in Kuantan after the Sarawak state election. The people are therefore encouraged to speak their mind to Deputy Minister of MOSTI.

Fuziah also calls for all the residents in Kuantan to stand united against the project of rare earth processing plant.

Do not benefit the People

"I would also challenge MB Pahang Datuk Adnan Yaakob to dissolve the state assembly, and to let the voters decide whether they would support BN again. To call upon the resignation of two MCA state assemblymen Datuk Pang Tsu Ming and Chang Hong Seong won’t help to resolve the issues," she said.

The vocal Lynas critic believes the insurance company is not willing to cover residents who are staying within 30 km from the plant.

"After the rare earth plant in operation, it will provide 30% of the world rare earth. The people will not benefit, because local has no direct involvement in the business," she said.

Fuziah further said, she will attend the briefing session on 20 April 2011 in Duta Village Beach Resort, Sungai Karang Kuantan.

On the other hand, PKR Pahang State Chief Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman said the rare earth processing is rather similar to the coconut processing, coconut milk is useful, but how to handle the residuals?

He said the government previously also stressed that the ARE processing plant in Bukit Merah was not harmful, but it turned out that many people were suffering from cancer.

In addition, after hearing a 12-year tax holiday is provided by the government to the Australian rare earth company, the crowd booed loudly to show dissatisfaction.

Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) President Haris Ibrahim, Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) President Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah and KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall President Tan Yew Sing are among those urge the government to stop the Lynas project in Gebeng.

When the vocal Lynas critic Fuziah walked into the hall, the crowd applauded

Lynas - Surat terbuka kpd YAB MB Pahang. Daripada Hjh Fuziah Salleh, MP Kuantan

Lynas - let us print, photocopy, distribute and send the open letter of MP Kuantan cum PKR Vice President YB Fuziah Salleh to Pahang CM Adnan Yaakob, as a way of protesting that he is too simplistic in his thinking.