Main Claims: Should the Lynas project to be operate?

Claims and reason

1
There will be a technology transfer to Malaysia. Claims:

Reason:

Skilled workers will be given the best knowledge possible the processing on rare earth.

2
It will increase Malaysias annual Gross Domestic Production (GDP)

Claims:

Reason:
Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP) will generate RM 1.7 Billion which is almost 1% of Malaysia annual Gross Domestic Production (GDP).

3
The radioactive level is absolutely different with Japan disaster.

Claims:

Reason:

Even after 70 hours of exposure to the waste the radioactivity level is only as much as x-ray exposure.

Claims:

Concentrates shipped to Malaysia is not considered radioactive material.

Reason:

It is just only at 1600 ppm, which is not considered as radioactive material.

5
The rare earth process waste sample emits low radioactivity. Claims:

Reason:

The Geiger Muller counter read low radioactivity from the rare earth process waste sample.

Claims and objection.

Claim Lynas Advanced Material Plant will generate vast job opportunities.

Objection:

Only 450 employees needed during full operation as its process primarily automated.

Claim:

Lynas Advanced Material Plant will generate 1.7 Billion ringgit, almost 1% of Malaysia Gross Domestic Product.

Objection: Malaysia offered 12 years tax free holiday to Lynas while the Lynas leave all the waste at Malaysia so there is no really benefit to Malaysia

 Claim:

There shall be knowledge transfer of processing rare earth metal to Malaysia

Objection:

Malaysia is not a conventional major rare earth producing country, thus transferring knowledge of processing rare earth metal does not benefit the country considerably.

Claim:

The Geiger counter reads low radioactivity from the rare earth process waste sample.

Objection:

The sample was sealed in glass bottle which most of the alpha particle can be filtered so it does not signify the real reading in Gebeng.

 Claims:

At 1600 ppm, concentrates shipped to Malaysia was not considered radioactive material.

Objection

The 1600 ppm, refer to the Thorium content in the FEED Minerals to Lynas Advanced Material Plant, not in the waste which shall be buried in Malaysia

What else do you need to know about Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP)?
KUANTAN, Malaysia A colossal construction project here could help determine whether the world can break Chinas chokehold on the strategic metals crucial to products as diverse as Apples iPhone, Toyotas Prius and Boeings smart bombs. As many as 2,500 construction workers will soon be racing to finish the worlds largest refinery for so-called rare earth metals the first rare earth ore processing plant to be built outside China in nearly three decades. For Malaysia and the worlds most advanced technology companies, the plant is a gamble that the processing can be done safely enough to make the local environmental risks worth the promised global rewards. The Malaysian government claimed that, by letting the LAMP to operate in Kuantan, it will generate a vast job opportunity. But the truth is LAMP is not labor intensive and its processes primarily automated. Only total of 450 employees (including expatriate, skilled, unskilled) needed during full operation. They are also claimed that skilled workers who will be given the best knowledge in the world on the processing of rare earths and Technology / knowledge transfer. But the total rare earth reserves in Malaysia is merely 35,000 tones or 0.023% of worlds rare earth deposits Malaysia is not a conventional major rare earth producing country; we produced only 380 tones of REO in 2008 and 2009 , thus transferring knowledge in rare earth process does not benefit the country considerably. The supporter of LAMP said that LAMP to generate $1.7 billion, almost 1% of Malaysia annual GDP (2010). However, Malaysia offered 12 year tax free holiday to Lynas. The revenue generated from LAMP will be channeled to Australia and Lynas share holders. So is it Malaysian government will get enough benefit from LAMP?

Lynas stated that the ratio of thorium to rare earth metals found in its concentrated raw material was 55 to 10,000 while the Bukit Merah operation had 12,000 parts thorium to every 10,000 parts of rare earth.. However this comparison does show Thorium content was higher in Bukit Merah than in the Lynas FEED. This also suggest in order to produce 22,000 tons/yr of REO, the LAMP will generate a massive 120 tons of radioactive Thorium every year. (22000/10000 tones x 55 = 120 tones). AELB demonstrated at Kuantan town hall, that Geiger counter reads low radioactivity at 0.2 mSv/hr from the rare earth process waste samples. But, LAMP has not begun production; source and authenticity of waste samples remain questionable. Further, radioactivity was measured based upon the minute amount of samples sealed in glass bottles, by which most Alpha radiation (emitted by Thorium) can be filtered away (ref: IAEA). This result does not signify the real circumstance of copious tonnage of Thorium compounds stored in Gebeng. Lynas stated that, The levels are absolutely different with Japan disaster, no comparison. Even after 70 hours (of exposure to our waste), all you get is an x-ray This claim based upon the radioactivity level of 0.2 mSv/hr. An Xray scan incurs c.a. 1.4 mSv = 0.2 mSv/hr x 70 hr. However, production of 120 tones Thorium compounds every year can release radioactivity exceptionally higher than just 0.2mSv/hr.

LYNAS and AELB also said that, at 1600 ppm, concentrates shipped to Malaysia was not considered radioactive materials. For our note the 1600 ppm refers to the Thorium content in the FEED Minerals to LAMP, not in the wastes. M. James, Lynas Corporate Communications said The radioactive level of Lynas residue is only is 1/300 of the Asian Rare Earth residue (6.7 Bq/g vs 1900 Bq/g). However, our calculation shown 6.7 Bq/gram corresponds to 1600 ppm Thorium, again, referred to the Thorium content in the FEED Minerals to LAMP. It is incorrect Lynas to focus on radioactivity level of FEED but failed to clarify the radioactive Thorium-containing wastes, which will be stayed and stored in Gebeng, potentially for years.
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AELB DG, Raja Aziz pointed out tighter controls the 1600ppm of thorium that Lynas had promised. Raja Aziz said Lynas was confident of keeping thorium levels in its waste to 1600 ppm compared to the amang tin tailings used in Bukit Merah which produced 80 000 ppm of thorium in its waste. You can just tabur (scatter) everywhere AELB DG. As above, the 1600 ppm Thorium in FEED Mineral is being emphasized again. It is unwise AELB to give such remarks to create a false perception. Radioactive level may be low in the FEED Minerals, however after the REO is extracted, Thorium will be concentrated and subsequently disposed as waste. No comment being made by AELB on the radiation risk due to higher Thorium concentration in the wastes. Lynas PLANS to mixed the iron-bound thorium with Lime, to dilute it to a thorium concentration of less than 500 parts per million (ppm) the maximum permitted under international standards to allow the material to be disposed with few restrictions. However, Lynas admitted to not having a commercial application yet. (Ref: Malaysia Insider, 12thApr 11) Raja Aziz also said that Lynas must stay under 500 ppm of thorium in its waste product or be told to cease operations. How is this (Diluting and storing such vast amount of waste) commercially and technically feasible remains in great doubt. LAMP will produce 120 tons of Thorium every year, if such quantity of Thorium has to be diluted to 500 ppm, an additional of 220,000 tons of waste to be generated every year! It is extremely concerned if Lynas would practice this (Thorium dilution); and how 220,000 tones/yr of radioactive waste can be stored safely.

N. Curtis stated that Its not that Lynas does not have the solution. The solution (storage dams) has been agreed. Now Lynas is going beyond the standards. Lynas has not disclosed the technical details of the Thorium treatment, nor its storage system. All we know it is a temporary Tailing Storage Facilities on site that made of clay and HDPE, long term storage remained unresolved. Without these details, the repeated reassurance of safe storage by Lynas remains dubious. Raja Aziz, AELB, said We will not let them accumulate that much. We will stop them. They cannot be accumulating that much. There must be a parallel process. Howe ever Lynas has no detailed plan of disposal nor of recycling Thorium-compound wastes. There is only one way to stop accumulating this waste, which is to stop the entire process. Dr Ahmad Tarmizi, a UTM, says that thorium exists in the environment naturally. Lynas and AELB have also given a similar remark. Lynas state that "iron phosphor gypsum has a very low level of naturally occurring thorium which is the source of a very low level of radioactivity. However, it is irrelevant to quote the Thorium content in natural environment. For comparison, the average Thorium concentration in the Earths crust amounts between 8 to 12 ppm (ref: Wikipedia); Thorium in Mt Weld mine is reportedly 400 ppm; Thorium in the Concentrates or FEED Minerals to LAMP is 1600 ppm (ref: Lynas). After REO is extracted from the FEED minerals, the Thorium concentration and its radioactivity is unquestionably greater than that occurred naturally in the soil, sand, earth crust etc.

Is itLynas Advanced Material Plant should be allowed to operate in Malaysia?

Name Matriculation card number Name Matriculation card number Class

:Muadz Bin Zulkarnain :2011421264 : :2011419332 :LWA 01D