PAHANG has agreed on a site for a permanent disposal facility (PDF) for waste produced by Lynas Corporation’s rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, reports Malaysiakini.

Lynas secretary Andrew Arnold was quoted as saying the site is more than 30km north of Kuantan, in a remote area in Bukit Ketam near Pahang’s border with Terengganu.

The PDF will handle water leach purification (WLP) waste from the plant.

Arnold said Gading Senggara Sdn Bhd (GSSB) has been appointed the contractor to manage the design, construction and operation of the PDF.

“The estimated total amount to be paid to GSSB for managing the entire PDF project is US$98 million (RM400 million).”

The payments will be made up to 2026, according to a set schedule.

The report said GSSB holds a licence for industrial waste disposal for the east coast region in the peninsula, and is a government-appointment concessionaire.

The PDF is one of three conditions issued by Putrajaya last August when renewing Lynas’ operating permit for a six-month period.

The other conditions are the building of a cracking and leaching facility abroad where the process of extracting rare earths will be conducted, and stopping of research and development on the use of radioactive WLP residue as Condisoil in agriculture.

The renewal of Lynas’ permit followed much protest, including from Pakatan Harapan lawmakers, over its plant’s continued operations in Malaysia. – January 30, 2020.