Chang said Lynas is constructing a PDF to accommodate all water leach purification (WLP) residues in phases involving four cells labelled A, B, C and D.

“As of May 31, cells A and B have been completed, while cells C and D are still under construction,” he said in a written parliamentary reply to Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub).

Chow had asked for an update on Lynas’s progress in constructing the PDF and the current status of the Australian rare earths producer’s technology for extracting thorium from raw materials and radioactive waste.

Lynas Malaysia’s operating licence was renewed last October, allowing the company to continue importing and processing rare earths until March 2026.

However, this extension hinges on Lynas’s compliance with ensuring that the thorium radioactive content in WLP residue remains below 1 becquerel (Bq) per gram through a dedicated research and development initiative.

Chang said the R&D project is in its laboratory (bench scale) phase and involves computer modelling to validate data and parameters.

Field testing (pilot plant) activities are scheduled to commence in July.

“The research and development project is scheduled for two years, starting from Jan 1, 2024, to Dec 31, 2025,” he said.