Friday 14 December 2012

Govt agencies will monitor Lamp operations

The cabinet yesterday reaffirmed that public health and safety was its  priority and that it will ensure that all  government agencies   monitored the operations of the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Pahang.

It said the monitoring would focus on the operations of Lamp, especially the handling and management of the residue generated by the plant.

The statement was issued by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili; Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas and Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The statement said there would be no change in the government's position to demand that Lynas remove the residue from the country, consistent with the conditions stated in its temporary operating licence (TOL).

It said the cabinet reaffirmed the ministers' Dec 10 statement that Lamp was obliged to remove all the residue generated by the plant from Malaysia.

The ministers had said that should Lynas fail to comply with this condition, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board was empowered under Section 22 of the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304) to suspend or revoke the TOL and order Lynas to cease operations.

This was in response to reports quoting Lynas Malaysia managing director Mashal Ahmad as saying that the waste products generated by Lynas could not be exported because of international laws.
It was also reported that Lamp had to abide by international conventions that prohibited the export of hazardous wastes.


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