PUTRAJAYA’S decision on Lynas Corp’s appeal on its licensing conditions will be announced in mid-August, said Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis.

“An appeal hearing was held on June 28, whereby we have asked them to ship their waste residue back to Australia,” she told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“We need a few more inputs before announcing a decision in mid-August.”

Lynas met with the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB), a unit under the ministry, on June 28.

The board imposed two preconditions for the rare earth mining company’s licence renewal via a letter dated December 4, 2018.

Lynas is required to export stored water-leached purification (WLP) residue before September 2 this year when its licence if up for renewal.

In addition, it is required to submit an action plan on the disposal of neutralisation underflow residue (NUF).

Lynas previously said the WLP is currently in temporary storage facilities onsite at its advanced materials plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. It said the storage is in accordance with the current licence.

It was recently reported that the Australian company will attempt to recycle its WLP residue here while moving the first stage of processing to Australia over the next five years. – July 9, 2019.