WHEN a foreign mining company locates its complex industrial site remote from its source of extraction, it is a typical case of ‘not in my backyard’ syndrome which should sound alarm among environmentalists and politicians alike. Yet our authorities in 2008 welcomed the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) located at Gebeng, Kuantan, to refine rare earths shipped from Mt Weld, Western Australia.

Pioneer status with a 12-year tax exemption was even granted to Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd that owns the plant. A temporary operating licence for two years was awarded despite the plant’s lack of a proper long-term disposal plan for its wastes, and operations commenced in 2012. Our approving authorities must have been jubilant at the creation of 600 jobs. 

Environmentalist and activists protested to deaf ears over the years. It was only in September when the Pakatan Harapan government called for a thorough review on the Lynas rare earth processing plant, that recently found abnormally high levels of heavy metals concentrations of nickel, chromium, lead and mercury; serious attention was given to the case. All this while there was doubt over the regulatory authority in a civil service known for its lacklustre attitude. 

Lessons should have been drawn from past experience. The Asian Rare Earth incident in Bukit Merah incident some 25 years ago, where radioactive materials were haphazardly leaked and raised serious environmental concerns. There were reported cases of birth defects and leukaemia among nearby residents. Environmental disaster due to wastewater pipes leakage in the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California led to its shutdown in the 1990s. Even in China where 97% of the world’s rare earths are produced, it comes at a heavy cost. In the Baotou region, vast areas with kilometres-wide tailing ponds filled by discharge water loaded with chemicals used to process rare earth, are aplenty. Ponds laden with toxic chemicals and radioactive particles, where not even algae could survive, were once rich farmlands. 

Environmental hazards due to rare earth production occur during the mining and refining operations. In the case of LAMP, which is a refinery, environmental concerns revolve around the release of metal by-products into the environment via the air, surface and ground water. Once polluted it is almost impossible to decontaminate. Fishes, plants, crops, including humans will be adversely affected. Perhaps even total devastation for an indefinite period.

In the processing and refining process, much water is used. Nitric acid is used to leach out the rare minerals from the ore, leaving behind acidic waste and the unusable thorium, which is radioactive. The process releases nitrogen oxide and chlorine gas. Proper treatment of wastewater with stringent control is a must to prevent adverse environmental and human impact. 

Besides acidic wastewater, there is also the problem of solid waste like tailings and waste rock stockpiles. Tailings from the separation and processing of minerals contain radionuclides, and when accumulated lead to unacceptable levels of radiation and emit radon gas. Radionuclides are released as dust and mostly airborne. Gradually and surely the radionuclides find their way into the ecosystem and accumulate in plants, and eventually ascend the levels of food chain. 

According to the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, mining one ton of rare earth minerals produce about one tone of radioactive waste. And according to the Chinese Society for Rare Earths, “one ton of calcined rare earth ore generates 9,600-12,000 cubic metres of waste gas containing dust concentrate, hydrofluoric acid, sulfur dioxide, and sulfuric acid, and approximately 75 metres of acidic wastewater.”

Now that the plant to process and refine rare earths is already in our midst, and operational, it is imperative that wastewater effluent be well treated. A double safety measure for storage of radioactive waste has to be enforced. Vigilance in monitoring for safety is absolutely necessary. Sampling of river water for quality analysis has to be regularly conducted. Toxicological and epidemiological data for communities around the vicinity of the plant has to be closely monitored. 

In the final analysis, unlike China that produces the rare earths mostly for its own industrial consumption; the LAMP in Gebeng is the Australian outsourced plant where profits are theirs and hazards are ours. Considering all the eerie hazards and potential calamities waiting to happen, one wonders what was going on in the minds of those officials who approved the plant to be outsourced here. Surely the 600 jobs cannot be worth it. – December 13, 2018.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.