The Lynas Fact Sheet

The Lynas Fact Sheet descent This Fact Sheet is updated regularly. The last update was made on 2nd June 2011 exalted Earths 1. Despite their name, r atomic descend 18 military man beings elements argon relatively plentiful in the globes perkiness 2. 3. but argon more hard to mine and extract than many other(a) metals because of their chemical properties and geographical dispersion, making them relatively more expensive to extract. old earth metals are used 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 get hold of for elevated earths is increasing rapidly and is expect to outstrip supply in the future. mainland China currently produces about 97% of the worlds supply. high-flown Earths & Radioactivity 1. The extraction of antiquated earths raises a number of environmental and off the hook(predicate)ty concerns 2. 3. 4. because the ore in which rare earths are found are often associated with minerals containing radioactive elements such as uranium and thorium. Health and preventive issues that penury to be addressed include beam of light trade protection for workers, the open and the environment, the transportation of sensible corporeals nd the management of waste. Human beings are ex saluted to very sm all told levels of radiation therapy in everyday life. Thorium, for example, is naturally commit in soil, rocks, ground and surface water, brings and animals in very low concentrations. Ingestion of nutriment and water containing this level of radioactivity does non pose any threat to human health. The radiation exposure limit prune by AELB for the ordinary is 1 mSv/year. The yearbook radiation exposure, in millisieverts (mSv)/year, in a number of effortless human activities is as follows i. Smoking a pack of cigarettes daily 0. 0 mSv ii. Medical or dental consonant x-day 0. 39 mSv iii. Sleeping n eighboring to someone for 8 hours 0. 02 mSv iv. Watching television 2 hours daily 0. 01 mSv v. Using a computing device terminal 0. 001 mSv (Source linked Nations Scientific mission on the Effects of atomic Radiation, 1982, 1993, 2000 United Nations Environment Protection Agency US Department of Energy Health physical science Society) The Lynas Project 1. Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lynas union 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 , channelize it by container ship to Kuantan, and extremity it at the Gebeng industrial Estate in Pahang. At Gebeng, the Lynas plant pass on extract Rare Earths from the ore for export. Lynas says waste from the extraction process volition be used to produce commercially applicable products or stored in safe and secure containe rs. Lynas says it chose to locate its plant at the Gebeng localise because of i. Its proximity to Kuantan port ii.The accessibility of gas, water and chemical supplies iii. The availability of technical workers Manufacturing License 1. On 22 January 2008, Lynas was allow a manufacturing licence to produce rare 2. earth oxides and carbonates at Gebeng Industrial Estate, Kuantan. The blessing was granted subject to a number of conditions, in particular, the need to comply with the render of the i. atomic Energy Licensing incite 1984 ii. environmental Quality 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 corresponds of construction and operation. This includes matters relating to radiation protection (occupational, public and environmental), refuge, waste management, transporta tion, decommissioning and remediation. The Department of Environment (DOE) is the implementing direction for the Environmental Quality Act 1974. The Act governs issues related to the prevention, abatement and control of contaminant and enhancement of the environment (other than radioactive material and radioactive waste).The safety standards and good coiffure requirements enforced by the two restrictive bodies are similar to or equivalent to those recognised transnationally. Compliance status 1. Lynas began preparedness and construction of its plant at Gebeng Industrial Estate, 2. Pahang soon after obtaining its manufacturing licence. In April 2011, the follow announced 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 take of the company to date.A site licence and a construction licence have been issued accordingly. The next stage in the multi-tiere d praise process requires Lynas to apply to the AELB for a pre- operational licence. To date, the company has non made a submission to the AELB for this purpose. Upon receiving a pre-operating licence, the company will then be required to apply for and obtain an operating licence before it can lead astray full operations. 3. The Environmental Impact sagacity (EIA) Report on the project was sanction 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 risk to workers and members of the public living in the areas surrounding the site beyond what is allowed by the regulatory authorities. Nuklear Malaysia as well affirms that the projected radiation exposure levels in the Lynas plant for workers (average of 2 mSv/yr) and m embers of the public (0. 02 mSv/yr) are within the limits set by AELB. finish to appoint Independent Panel of worldwide Experts 1. On 22 April, 2011, however, following general public concern about the safety of 2. the project, the Government announced a decision to appoint an independent embellish of planetary experts to review all health and safety aspects of the project.Pending completion of this review, the Government also intractable 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 world(prenominal) Experts 1. In late April 2011, the Government approached the outside(a) Atomic Energy 2. 3. Agency (IAEA) in Vienna , Austria , for assistance to appoint an expert team to i. Review Lynas compliance with p ertinent International Safety Standards and Good Practices, and ii. set aside an independent expert opinion on safety issues, in particular, those relating to radiation safety.The backdrop of the review included i. Radiation protection (workplace, public, environment) ii. Safety assessment iii. Waste instruction iv. Transportation v. Decommissioning and environmental remediation On 13 whitethorn, 2011, the Government announced detail of the IAEA-appointed panel. The panel consists of a leader and nightspot members four from the IAEA, and five from IAEA member countries. in 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 grammatical constituent of its work on 29 May 2011. During its six-day visit, the panel has scheduled to meet with authorities officials and representat ives 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 leave office its report to the Government by 30 June 2011. The Government has announced that the report will be made public.