The Lynas Fact Sheet

The Lynas Fact Sheet Note This Fact Sheet is modifyd regularly. The last update was made on 2nd June 2011 Rare Earths 1. Despite their name, rarified earth elements are relatively plentiful in the earths crust 2. 3. but are much difficult to mine and conjure than many another(prenominal) metals because of their chemical properties and geographical dispersion, making them relatively more expensive to extract. Rare earth metals are use in the manufacture of a wide variety of products including catalytic converters, wind turbines, hybrid car batteries, disk drives, mobile phones, and flat screen displays.Worldwide demand for rare earths is increasing rapidly and is expected to outstrip supply in the future. China currently produces about 97% of the worlds supply. Rare Earths & Radioactivity 1. The extraction of rare earths raises a number of environmental and precaution concerns 2. 3. 4. because the ore in which rare earths are found are often associated with minerals containing r adioactive elements such as uranium and thorium. Health and preventive issues that need to be addressed include radiation protection for workers, the humans and the environment, the transportation of bare-assed materials nd the management of waste. Human beings are exposed to very small levels of radioactivity in everyday life. Thorium, for example, is naturally present in soil, rocks, ground and surface urine, plants and animals in very low concentrations. Ingestion of food and water containing this level of radioactivity does not pose any threat to human health. The radiation exposure limit set by AELB for the public is 1 mSv/year. The yearbook radiation exposure, in millisieverts (mSv)/year, in a number of daily human activities is as follows i. Smoking a pack of cigarettes daily 0. 0 mSv ii. Medical or dental x-day 0. 39 mSv iii. Sleeping next to someone for 8 hours 0. 02 mSv iv. Watching television 2 hours daily 0. 01 mSv v. Using a computer terminal 0. 001 mSv (Source g et together Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, 1982, 1993, 2000 United Nations Environment Protection Agency US Department of Energy Health Physics Society) The Lynas come out 1. Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lynas Corporation 2. Ltd of Australia . Its business is the production and sale of rare earths and related byproducts.Lynas plans to import rare earth ore from its Mount Weld mine in Western Australia, 3. 4. truck it to the port of Fremantle , send it by container ship to Kuantan, and process it at the Gebeng industrial Estate in Pahang. At Gebeng, the Lynas plant will extract Rare Earths from the ore for export. Lynas says waste from the extraction process will be used to produce commercially applicable products or stored in safe and secure containers. Lynas says it chose to site its plant at the Gebeng site because of i. Its proximity to Kuantan port ii.The availability of gas, water and chemical supplies iii. T he availability of skilled workers Manufacturing License 1. On 22 January 2008, Lynas was granted a manufacturing manifest to produce rare 2. earth oxides and carbonates at Gebeng Industrial Estate, Kuantan. The approval was granted subject to a number of conditions, in particular, the need to comply with the sustenance of the i. Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 ii. Environmental tint Act 1974. Compliance Requirements 1. The Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 is administered by the Atomic Energy 2. 3. Licensing Board (AELB).Among other things, the AELB monitors and assesses the radiological impact of the Lynas project through all stages of construction and operation. This includes matters relating to radiation protection (occupational, public and environmental), safe, waste management, transportation, decommissioning and remediation. The Department of Environment (DOE) is the implementing agency for the Environmental Quality Act 1974. The Act governs issues related to the preventi on, abatement and control of pollution and enhancement of the environment (other than radioactive material and radioactive waste).The safety standards and good practice requirements oblige by the two regulatory bodies are similar to or equivalent to those recognised internationally. Compliance status 1. Lynas began planning and construction of its plant at Gebeng Industrial Estate, 2. Pahang soon after obtaining its manufacturing licence. In April 2011, the company proclaimed that construction had reached the 40% stage and was on target for completion by September, 2011. The AELB confirms that Lynas has complied with all health and safety standards required of the company to date.A site licence and a construction licence direct been issued accordingly. The next stage in the multi-tiered approval process requires Lynas to apply to the AELB for a pre-operating licence. To date, the company has not made a submission to the AELB for this purpose. Upon receiving a pre-operating licenc e, the company will then be required to apply for and obtain an operating licence before it can commence full operations. 3. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report on the project was approved by 4. 5. the Department of Environment on 15 February 2008.The Department confirms that Lynas has complied with all requirements of the EIA approval to date. The Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA) conducted by the Nuklear Malaysia affirms that operation of the proposed Lynas plant would not pose any radiological danger to workers and members of the public living in the areas surrounding the site beyond what is allowed by the regulatory authorities. Nuklear Malaysia also affirms that the projected radiation exposure levels in the Lynas plant for workers (average of 2 mSv/yr) and members of the public (0. 02 mSv/yr) are within the limits set by AELB. Decision to appoint unconditional Panel of International Experts 1. On 22 April, 2011, however, following widespread public concern ab out the safety of 2. the project, the Government announced a decision to appoint an independent beautify of international experts to review all health and safety aspects of the project.Pending completion of this review, the Government also decided that i. No pre-operating license will be issued to Lynas by AELB. ii. There will be no importation of raw materials for the plant from Australia. ii. A review will be undertaken to ensure that construction of the facility at the site fully complies with national and international safety standards. Independent Panel of International Experts 1. In late April 2011, the Government approached the International Atomic Energy 2. 3. Agency (IAEA) in Vienna , Austria , for assistance to appoint an expert squad to i. Review Lynas compliance with relevant International Safety Standards and Good Practices, and ii. Provide an independent expert opinion on safety issues, in particular, those relating to radiation safety.The chain of mountains of the review included i. Radiation protection (workplace, public, environment) ii. Safety assessment iii. Waste Management iv. Transportation v. Decommissioning and environmental remediation On 13 May, 2011, the Government announced details of the IAEA-appointed panel. The panel consists of a leader and nine members four from the IAEA, and five from IAEA member countries. All panel members are recognised experts in their respective 4. 5. 6. 7. disciplines and have knowledge of IAEA standards, in particular, those relating to rare earth processing.Details of individual members of the panel The expert panel began the on-site component of its work on 29 May 2011. During its six-day visit, the panel has scheduled to meet with government officials and representatives of Lynas, and receive representations from members of the public, including residents, community associations, non-governmental organisations and professional bodies. The panel is scheduled to complete its work and submit its repo rt to the Government by 30 June 2011. The Government has announced that the report will be made public.