Australian RE miner Lynas sues Malaysian opponents

In a news carried by AFP on Workers Day (May 1, 2012), Australian rare earths miner Lynas is understood to have launched legal action against the most vitriolic opponents of its proposed plant in Malaysia following fierce criticism that it is unsafe.

Malaysians protest against an Australian rare earth plant in October 2011. Image: AFP

Lynas plans to start production soon in eastern Pahang state to process rare earths imported from Australia, effectively breaking the Chinese stranglehold on the materials.

But the plant has been hugely controversial with fears it will harm the environment by producing radioactive pollution. Protests have been held and the Lynas website hacked, proving a headache for Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's government ahead of elections expected to be held soon.

Lynas says the facility - the Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP) - is safe and has been the target of a "baseless scare campaign".

"Lynas has commenced defamation proceedings in Malaysia against the 'Save Malaysia Stop Lynas' group and various media organisations," it said in its quarterly activities report released Monday.

"The proceedings relate to various false and misleading statements that have been published in Malaysia concerning Lynas and its business."

Executive chairman Nick Curtis told Australian media Tuesday that some recent claims had crossed the line between debate and defamation.

"What we are hoping to achieve is clarity that the debate about Lynas's plant in Malaysia must be based on fact and the real issues," he said. - AFP


TheGreenMechanics' two cents: Facility maintenance a critical aspect

If a temporary operating licence, TOL, must be issued, the company must ensure strict adherence to the stipulated operations and maintenance procedures and preferably be done under the supervision of independent party/ies.

The planned preventive maintenance (PPM) of machinery and facilities must be religiously followed including the disposal of wastes. The plant is operated by human and without stringent monitoring, there are bound to be lapses in the process control resulting in harmful products (and wastes) being discharged to the environment.

I am not overly worried about how safe the facility is, I am more worried about how well they will maintain it and even more worried about the waste disposal. Any location yet?

The best and stringent process control must be matched with proper maintenance of equipment. If the government is adamant in setting up such facility - and we know we have choices - let's pray for a safe and clean environment in Gebeng Pahang, long after its commencement.

Rare Earth Metals - the new oil

Not too long ago not so many people think that rare earth elements, REEs, were going to become one of the precious and sought after commodities in the IT age. Or at least people took REEs for granted, thinking that, although they are called 'rare', rare earth metals exist in abundance in many parts of the world and hence no one should be worry about their supply.

But today - and you know it happened in a blink of an eye - many applications of REEs change the way we do things totally and differently. Suddenly developed nations start worrying about China's over 95% control of REEs production. No doubt REEs are very important and you can look at the non-exhaustive rare earth elements applications in my previous entry, posted as the protest to the setting up of Lynas rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang gathered pace.

Rare Earth Elements - world production and reserve. Source: US Geological Survey


Rare Earth is the new oil

At least this is what Asia Times online believes. Rare earth elements are becoming as important as oil in many aspects of our life. They are used in most high-tech products predominantly in the form of heavy-duty batteries and magnets. They are pivotal in defense technology as in lasers, radars and electromagnetic weaponry, as well as green technology as in hydroelectric power plant, windmill, hybrid cars, etc.

Asia Times online noted that US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated global reserve of rare earth elements as of 2011 as follows:

China - 36 Mt to 55 Mt (megatons). Half of the world total reserve.
USA - 15 Mt
Russia - 19 Mt (together with former Soviet republics)
Australia - 1.6 Mt (down from 5.4 Mt)
India - 2.7 Mt
Malaysia, Brazil - listed by USGS as 'small' amount

What is interesting to note here is that despite China's only 50% of rare earth reserve, more than 95% of production is currently in China. Meaning, other countries are not interested (or trying to avoid) in doing the processing/production domestically.

Is it a dirty industry?

Many developed countries with untapped rare earths reserve prefer to buy processed products from China, and many people, including rich nations rightly think that rare earth processing is best left outside of their respective countries. And who else could you depend on in doing such tasks? China.

Malaysia is currently contemplating constructing Lynas Advance Material Plant in Gebeng Pahang, a rare earth processing facility owned by Lynas Corp., Australia. This is a multi-billion dollar project that is said to benefit Malaysia financially and technologically.

Dirty or not, rare earth metals are fast becoming the goods to die for and prices per kilo of REEs have increased 10-fold in 2010. China is now reaping the benefit of accelerated growth of high-tech industry as many high-tech manufacturers are forced to relocate to China.

I suppose Malaysia is eying the same. But the situation in Malaysia is different - we import raw REEs, process and produce them, then send the finish products back to developed countries, and we keep the waste. Cleaning the dirty waste is not easy, and is far from cheap.

Don't get ourselves exploited

Malaysia must stand firm against the demands from foreign countries wanting to make Malaysia as their rare earth processing factory. If the US can put priority on its environment, and willing to buy processed REEs from China, than there must be something right about them not doing the mining and processing domestically. Remember, the US has a lot of REEs reserve of its own.

Malaysia has its own reserve of fossil oil, plenty of it. Explore it and process domestically and don't export crude oil. We don't have (very small) rare earth metals in our country - so, don't pollute our backyard by importing them from Australia.

For further readings jumps to:
Previous article: Of rare earth and Lynas - Part II
Previous article: Of rare earth and Lynas
Source of this entry: Asia Times online

Of Rare Earth and Lynas – Part II

Part I, Part II

Keywords: rare earth, Lynas

Now that you have understood the importance of rare earth elements (REE) via the previous article titled Of Rare Earth and Lynas - Part I, it is now about time to learn (if you haven't already read) about what is in there for us at Lynas Advance Material Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng, Pahang.

The following is the info-graphics compiled by IM Magazine and it summarised many facts you need to know about the controversial refinery. You can visit them here and you are encouraged to share the infographic with your friends and family.

IM Magazine: "Love Malaysia? Then don't forget to share it with your friends and family."

There is an on-going discussion in the infographic thread provided by IM Magazine and some voiced their concern regarding the facts and figures provided by IM. If in doubt, readers are advised to read the articles and sources quoted by the author.

Waste site to be 'far away from plant'?

 

Prime Minister Datuk Najib told reporters after a meet-the-people session at Wakaf Mek Zainab in Kota Baru last week: “The location of the waste disposal site is still being determined, but it is going to be far away. Scientific evidence endorsed by local and international experts shows that the plant and rare earth residue are safe."

In Malaysia there is nowhere and no place that is far enough for Lynas rare earth refinery waste. No one from Johor or Kedah, or Sabah for that matter, would want to 'receive' radioactive waste in their neighbourhood.

AND make no mistake, for all of Lynas' undertakings to ship the waste out of Malaysia, don't dream of sending it back to Australia. Remember what Norman Moore, the Western Australian minister asserted "Australia does not support the importation and storage of other countries’ radioactive waste."

SEPA - Remember Bukit Merah!

SEPA President, Wong Tack on Tuesday (Daily Express, 6 March 2012) brought us back down memory lane to the painful experience of Bukit Merah rare earth refinery operated by Mitsubishi in the 80s during ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad era.

“After 10 years of operation, an unusually high number of children in a nearby village were born with birth defects and brought down by leukemia” Wong noted.

The government closed the plant in 1992 after many years of protest by a Citizens Group, a group formed to protest the campaign for shut down of the plant. It is believed that today, former Mitsubishi rare earth plant site in Bukit Merah still stores 80,000 drums containing 200litres each of deadly radioactive wastes and it remains out of bounds - [SEPA].

If we look back at the above infographic, Mitsubishi Chemicals spent US$100 million to clean up the mess in Bukit Merah.

Decide for yourself

Think about this. If Australians did not have to endure radioactive radiations from a supposedly Lynas plant back there, why would us Malaysians want to willingly subject our self to a highly risky endeavour?

Lynas based their analysis and reports on 100% plant process efficiency. In real world, due partly to human error and mostly to man's carelessness or just plain ignorant. It can happen even in the most stringent environment. Murphy's Law states that "If it can go wrong, it will".

In other words, Lynas is an accident waiting to happen. If it goes wrong it will never be reversible.

Coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu has been cancelled after consistent protest from the local population, as well as friends and fellow Malaysians from Peninsula. There is no stopping the people of Gebeng  from asking for their right to live safely and healthily.

Your flashy Gadget or no Lynas?

Rare earth elements are important and they are needed for many of the modern gadgets and appliances, yes. But there are other places that are less inhabited that we can process them there. It will then be more costly but that is the price we'll have to pay for modernisation. 

If we can do it far away from the masses, why put our self in danger? Why Gebeng?

Of Rare Earth and Lynas

Part I, Part II

Keywords: rare earth, Lynas

Mention the above two words and many will generally think of the recent negative remarks in the news, not because rare earth elements (REE) and Lynas are themselves bad entities, but due to the ongoing protest by environmentalists and individuals against the setting up of a chemical plant - Lynas Advance Material Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng, Pahang Malaysia.

Let's look at what are REE and how they impact our daily routines. I am not an expert in the field of chemistry - you could ask me about machinery, electricity, or pump, and not rare earth elements - but that would not stop us from learning a little bit about chemical substances, yes?

What is rare earth?

First of all, contrary to what their name suggest, rare earth element are found quite easily anywhere around the world. What makes them unique from other earth elements is that it is rare to find a commercially viable deposit.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry defines Rare Earth Elements as the 15 Lanthanide elements, plus Scandium and Yttrium. Best known for their applications in catalysts, computers, magnets, cell phones, hybrid cars, to name a few.

Where do they come from?

The supply of rare earth is almost monopolised by China. RareEarth Investing News in its report stated that China currently produces over 95% of the world’s rare earth supply and most of this is coming from Mongolia. Other places with high concentrations have also been identified at Mountain Pass, California, and Mount Weld, Australia.

Why rare earth?

Because of their ability to readily give up and accept electrons, the REE have become very useful in many electronic, optical, magnetic and catalytic applications. This suggests that as we advance further technologically, REE are becoming more and more indispensable.

Rare Earth Technologies - Commercial Applications

Rare earth elements are used in a wide range of green energy technologies, from hybrid cars to efficient light bulbs to wind turbines, to huge hydro-electric power generators.

Credit: REITA

Other rare earth applications related to energy in our daily life:

Credit: REITA

Rare earth applications which have became critical and play important roles in the way we live our life today, such as mobile phones, wide-screen TVs and water treatment:

Credit: REITA

Conclusion

As you can see rare earth applications are everywhere and they have become critical for the overall economic well being of the people. To say that it is not important or that it is something that we can live without, is a blatant denial of the fact that everyone has something to do with it in their daily activity - big or small ways.

Of rare earth and Lynas? That will be in the upcoming entry - Of Rare Earth and Lynas, Part II