Lynas waste disposal facility reaches 77pc completion as 2031 deadline looms

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — The permanent disposal facility (PDF) for radioactive waste generated by Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd had achieved 77 per cent completion in construction and operations as of Aug 31, with 1.45 million metric tonnes of the 1.467 million metric tonnes of Water Leach Purification (WLP) waste generated having been transferred to the facility.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang said four disposal cells, designated A, B, C and D, had been completed, while the process of filling the facility with Auto Leach Residue (ALR) waste was ongoing.

“Based on monitoring by the Atomic Energy Department (JTA) up to Sept 10, radiation dose readings outside the PDF were also below 20 millisieverts per year, complying with the dose limit stipulated under Act 304 (Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984) for radiation workers,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Chow Yu Hui (PH-Raub) on the justification for renewing Lynas’ licence for 10 years, the status of the PDF, the amount of accumulated radioactive waste, and the mechanisms in place to ensure the company stops generating radioactive waste by 2031 and complies with all licence conditions.

Chang said Lynas was required to stop generating WLP radioactive waste before March 2031, while existing waste and waste generated during the period must be treated to reduce its activity concentration to below one becquerel (Bq) per gram using methods proven effective through research and development (R&D).

“This approach aims to reduce and eventually stop the generation of radioactive waste through recycling or reuse, while ensuring that mineral resources are managed sustainably and safely,” he said.

On who would be responsible in the event of a radioactive waste leak, Chang said Lynas was required to monitor the facility within the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) site during the first five years.

This was to ensure that the activity concentration of WLP waste could be reduced to below the control limit of one becquerel per gram stipulated under Act 304.

“Lynas must also continue its R&D on WLP waste, which will be monitored by the JTA. After the five years, if Lynas is still generating radioactive WLP waste, the JTA may suspend or revoke the licence.

“Therefore, the JTA will be responsible for ensuring that Lynas ceases generating radioactive waste by March 2031,” he said.

In March, the government decided to renew Lynas Rare Earths’ operating licence for another 10 years, allowing the Australian mining company to import raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive materials and process rare earth elements (REE). — Bernama

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吉隆坡，10 月 26 日讯——截至 8 月 31 日，马来西亚莱纳斯有限公司 (Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd) 产生的放射性废物永久处置设施 (PDF) 的建设和运营已完成 77%，146.7 万吨水浸净化 (WLP) 废物中已有 145 万吨被转移到该设施。

科学、工艺及创新部长拿督张立康表示，四个处置单元（分别命名为 A、B、C 和 D）已经完工，而向该设施填充汽车浸出残渣 (ALR) 废物的过程正在进行中。

“根据原子能局（JTA）截至9月10日的监测，PDF区域外的辐射剂量读数也低于每年20毫西弗，符合1984年原子能许可法（第304号法令）规定的辐射工作人员剂量限制，”他在今天国会下议院的问答环节中说。

他是在回答周宇辉（PH-Raub）提出的问题，这些问题涉及莱纳斯公司许可证续期 10 年的理由、PDF 的现状、累积放射性废物的数量，以及为确保该公司在 2031 年前停止产生放射性废物并遵守所有许可证条件而采取的机制。

张表示，莱纳斯公司必须在 2031 年 3 月之前停止产生 WLP 放射性废物，同时必须对现有废物和在此期间产生的废物进行处理，使其活性浓度降低到每克 1 贝克勒尔 (Bq) 以下，所用方法必须经过研发 (R&D) 验证有效。

他说：“这种方法旨在通过回收或再利用来减少并最终停止放射性废物的产生，同时确保矿产资源得到可持续和安全的管理。”

关于如果发生放射性废物泄漏，谁将承担责任的问题，张表示，莱纳斯公司需要在前五年内对莱纳斯先进材料工厂（LAMP）厂区内的设施进行监控。

这是为了确保 WLP 废物的放射性浓度能够降低到第 304 号法令规定的每克 1 贝克勒尔的控制限值以下。

“莱纳斯公司还必须继续进行WLP废物的研发，日本放射性废物管理局（JTA）将对此进行监督。五年后，如果莱纳斯公司仍然产生放射性WLP废物，JTA可以暂停或吊销其许可证。”

“因此，JTA将负责确保莱纳斯公司在2031年3月之前停止产生放射性废物，”他说。

今年3月，政府决定将莱纳斯稀土公司的运营许可证再延长10年，允许这家澳大利亚矿业公司进口含有天然放射性物质的原材料并加工稀土元素。——马新社

陆兆福表示，1000令吉的驾驶援助金并非马六甲选举的附加条件，该计划将继续在全国范围内推广。

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