It said it was “alarmed” to learn of Lynas’ recent announcement that the Pahang government had approved a site in Bukit Ketam, about 30km from Kuantan, for the PDF.
SAM noted a news report saying the approval lay with the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) and that no decision had been made yet.
“We would like to stress that according to the law, the PDF will require approvals
from both the Department of Environment (DOE) as well as the AELB.
“It will also require a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 as well as a Radiological Impact Assessment (RIA) under the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984.
“Hence, it is not only the AELB that has to approve, it is also the DOE which must give its approval, given that there has to be an environmental assessment as well as a radiological
impact assessment of the facility,” its president Meenakshi Raman said in a statement today.
Meenakshi said the DEIA and the RIA reports “must go hand in hand and done properly” with full public participation, consultation and feedback before any approvals can be given either by the DOE or AELB.
“Complete transparency in the process must be ensured, especially since the Lynas
operations have been highly controversial, generating much public outcry.
“The government agencies must not be under any pressure to approve the PDF in haste
and must ensure that all public health, safety and environmental considerations
are evaluated and assessed,” she said.
Last week, Lynas, which operates its rare earths processing plant at Gebeng, Kuantan, announced that the Pahang government had consented to a site at Bukit Ketam for its PDF.
Lynas Malaysia’s vice-president and managing director, Mashal Ahmad, said the approval letter from the Pahang government was one of the key criteria set by Putrajaya for the renewal of the plant’s operating licence.
He said Lynas was looking forward to working with its local partner Gading Senggara Sdn Bhd to finalise all aspects of the PDF’s construction and operation.