ADVERTORIAL
Q. I have heard so many different opinions. How do I know which to believe/trust?
A. Dato’ Mashal Ahmad: Ask these questions:
- Is the person part of an internationally recognised body? eg the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- Does the person have qualifications in the scientific area on which they are speaking?
- Is the person part of any organisation with a political or policy position which may affect independence?
- Is the person using current information on Lynas operations and performance?
The government has committed to a review process which is fair, open and scientific in nature. We expect the committee will hear evidence from a wide range of experts with proven and recognised qualifications in relevant areas of expertise.
Q. I don’t understand all the terminology. What’s Becquerel? What’s a milliSievert?
A. Prof Ismail Bahari: A Becquerel (Bq) is a unit of radioactivity. The Lynas residue
with measured radioactivity is known as WLP. At approximately 6 Bq/g it is, by IAEA definition, a very low level radioactive material.
Sievert (Sv) is the unit for Equivalent Dose and Effective Dose. It takes into account the different types of radiation and types of tissues being irradiated.
Q. I have read that Lynas will create the same health problems that were created by Asian Rare Earth. Is this true?
A. Prof Ismail Bahari: No. The 2 operations are not comparable. The radiological risk from Lynas is very low in comparison to Asian Rare Earth. Radioactivity of the feedstock and the residues from Asian Rare Earth were many times higher than for Lynas Malaysia.
Lynas implements international best practice management practices, partly defined by the AELB following the Asian Rare Earth incident. This is in stark contrast to the Asian Rare Earth approach.
It was reported that Asian Rare Earth failed to safely dispose of its industrial waste, containing radioactive thorium hydroxide. By comparison, Lynas stores the WLP residue in a specially designed and constructed dedicated approved facility that meets both the AELB and international best practices for long term storage. Asian Rare Earth’s poor management of its residues was also accused of causing unnecessary exposures to workers and public.
Since Lynas started operation, 6 years ago, there has not been a single case of abnormal and accidental radiation exposures, and no increase in the radiological risk to workers, the public or the environment. All this confirms the Radiological Impact Assessment carried out prior to Lynas operation.
Q. Isn’t all radiation bad?
A. Fatahiah Md Saad: No. Radiation is part of our environment and an important part of our lives. We are continuously exposed to background radiation from cosmic and terrestrial sources. Natural occurring radionuclides are found in water, air, earth and food.
The world’s average background radiation is 2.4 mSv/year.
Background radiation levels vary by geography in Malaysia (see graph below). There has been no increase in background radiation levels at 1 km, 5 km, 10 km and 20 km from Lynas Malaysia since the plant commenced operations in 2012.
The limit for occupational exposure to radiation is 20 mSv/year. Occupational radiation exposure for Lynas workers who manage the WLP is well below this at less than 2 mSv/year.
Q. I hear that Lynas only came to Malaysia because the environmental laws were more relaxed than in Australia.
A. Dato’ Mashal Ahmad: That is not correct. The Lynas plant was established in Malaysia at the invitation of the Malaysian government. Before it came to Malaysia, Lynas had received approval to operate in Australia. Malaysia put a strong business case for Lynas to establish the plant in Malaysia, including access to a skilled workforce, good infrastructure, stable economy and respect for the rule of law.
Malaysian environmental laws follow (and in some cases exceed) international practice, including in radiation management. In addition, Lynas applies international best practices in both countries, over and above the regulatory standards. Our customers and our other stakeholders demand excellent environmental standards.
A. Dato’ Mashal Ahmad: No. Lynas Malaysia imports lanthanide concentrate, which
has low level radioactivity (6 Bq/g), from our mine in Western Australia. This is processed at the Lynas Malaysia plant using inputs sourced from Malaysian suppliers.
Q. Is Lynas involved in bauxite mining?
A. Dato’ Mashal Ahmad: No, Lynas doesn’t mine anything in Malaysia. Our mine is in
Western Australia.
A. Dato’ Mashal Ahmad: International best practice for managing residues like Lynas
produces is reuse. Our operating licence requires the company to identify opportunities for productive reuse, or, if reuse is not possible then identify permanent storage opportunities.
We have invested significantly in R&D and submitted plans for the productive use of the material. Currently, residues are stored on site in facilities that are designed, built and managed in accordance with the requirements of a Permanent Deposit Facility.
Q. What are Rare Earths and how are they used?
A. Dr Kam Leung: Rare Earths are metals with specific optical, magnetic and catalytic properties.
Rare Earths are essential inputs to the automotive and consumer electronic industries. They are especially important in manufacturing eco-friendly products such as hybrid and electric vehicles, electronics and appliances, and wind turbines.
The Lynas chemical factory is located on a 100 hectare site in Gebeng, in a mature industrial estate. Lynas is the only miner and processor of rare earths outside of China.
Q. What sort of by-products does Lynas Malaysia produce?
A. Dr Kam Leung: An iron phosphogypsum known as Water Leach Purification residue (WLP) which contains very low-level naturally occurring radioactivity. A magnesium rich gypsum, known as NUF, which is a non-radioactive material.
Both are safely managed under regulations expertly enforced by the Malaysian government through the AELB and DOE.
