Lynas... Important Facts That You Should Know

Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang (PKNP) had issued a memo dated 22 April 2011 regarding several important facts on Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. The original memo was in Malay, so I took the liberty of translating them to a very simple English so that everyone can digest what's actually PKNP and Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) was trying to inform the public. Its quite lengthy, so bear with it and enjoy!

Important facts related to LYNAS Malaysia Sdn Bhd project at Gebeng Industrial Estate, Kuantan.

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1.0 Matters Arising

a. Confusion on the effects of radiation or radiation exposure from LYNAS radioactive material to the public.

b. Confusion related to Asian Rare Earth Company (ARE) which operated at Bukit Merah, Perak in 1984 that utilized raw material from Monozite ore that contained 6-7% radioactive material (non-radioactive material is 93-94%), compared to LYNAS which utilized raw material from Rare Earth (Lanthanide) that only contained 0.165% radioactive material and the remaining 99.835% non-radioactive material.

2.0 Facts Related to LYNAS Project

2.1 Radiation Affect Assessment Consultant for LYNAS Project

Malaysian Nuclear Agency

2.2 Project Approval

a. Department of Environment (DOE): Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report and Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) report to LYNAS.

b. Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB): Plant construction and site operation approval

c. The State of Pahang does not prevent the placement of LYNAS Malaysia Sdn Bhd project in Gebeng Industrial Estate, Kuantan after fulfilling the requirement in para (a) and (b), abovementioned.

2.3 The Difference Between LYNAS and ARE:

a. LYNAS

Raw Material: Ore from Mount Weld, Australia

Thorium Content in Raw Material: 0.16%

Radioactive Concentration in Waste: 0.165%

b. ARE

Raw Material: Tin ore tailings (Amang)

Thorium Content in Raw Material: 6% (37% higher than LYNAS)

Radioactive Concentration in Waste: 10% (60% higher than LYNAS)

Source: AELB

2.4 Waste From LYNAS Project

a. The 3 waste generated are;

i) Synthetic Gypsum (Fuel Gas Desulphurization – FGD)

ii) Magnesium Rich Gypsum (Neutralization Underflow – NUF)

iii) Iron Phosphor Gympsum (Water Leached Purification – WLP)

b. FGD and NUF are non-radioactive.

c. Iron Phosphor Gympsum (WLP – sludge) only contained 0.165% radioactive material and the remaining 99.835% non-radioactive material.

d. These waste will be stored by LYNAS and recycled for brick manufacturing, sea-water barrier and road according to the study currently conducted.

2.5 International Standard

a. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO) have identified the method to stabilize and reduce the radioactivity level of Water Leached Purification (WLP) from 0.165% to 0.03%. Therefore, WLP is safe for general production. LYNAS will try to reduce it to 0.05%.

2.6 Radiation Exposure Comparison between LYNAS Workers & Public in Comparison With Other Industry in Milisievert (mSv)

Non-Destructive Test (NDT) Worker: 6.1 mSv/annum

CT Scan: 6.9 mSv/annum

Average for LYNAS Worker: 2.0 mSv/annum

Flight Crew: 9.0 mSv/annum

Public Exposure From LYNAS: 0.002 mSv/annum

Source: AELB

Note: Radiation exposure is a function of distance and exposure duration to the radioactive source.

2.7 Lanthanide Product Application

Lanthanide are the main component in green-technology application such as;

a. Increase in energy saving through lower energy consumption

- Compact fluorescent light

- Reducing weight in cars

- Increase in oil refinery output

b. Preservation of environment through emission control

- Auto catalytic converter

- Diesel additive

- Increase in fuel efficiency

c. Compact and powerful digital technology

- Flat panel display

- Hard disc

- iPods and MP3 players

3.0 Summary

a. The placement of LYNAS project is anticipated to bring benefit to the economic growth of the state of Pahang especially in opening job opportunities to the “rakyat” besides the opportunity in other sectors such as housing, commercial, transportation and downstream industry inclusive of Kuantan Port operation, which contributes to the increase in state’s revenue.

b. The project is safe with continuous control and monitoring from department/agency related such as DOE, AELB and local authority to all the plants operating in the industrial estates in the state of Pahang.

Published by:

Industrial Division

Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang (PKNP)

Kuantan

For more information, please contact;

Hj Ahmad Sabri Hussin

Industrial Manager

+609-5145503/+6019-9868496