Based on the conditions set on the renewal of Lynas’ licence by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) yesterday, it is now obvious that AELB has kept a blind eye to Lynas’ incompliance with regulations and licensing conditions all these years.
In 2012, the AELB told Lynas to submit a detailed plan and location for the PDF. The plan and location must be approved within 10-months after the issuance of Lynas’ Temporary Operating Licence (TOL), failing which the TOL will be suspended or revoked. (http://www.aelb.gov.my/malay/dokumen/kenyataan-akhbar/01022012.pdf). After seven years, the AELB is again setting the same condition on Lynas, the only difference being six rather than ten months. Thus, it is crystal clear that Lynas has not complied with the licensing condition imposed in 2012.
The AELB has also finally admitted that Lynas has been storing its massive amount of toxic radioactive wastes on a site prone to natural disaster like major floods, in violation of Malaysian regulations. The Atomic Energy Licensing (Radioactive Waste Management) Regulations 2011, Regulation 21 states – “radiaactive wastes must not be stored in an area prone to natural disasters”.
I am appalled that such an important agency like the AELB which is tasked to safeguard the people and environment from harm arising from activities which deal with radioactive materials could be so incompetent and irresponsible. The Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (MESTECC) Minister must investigate this matter and take stern action against those officers who have failed in their duties.
It is already the month of August. The unpredictable East Coast monsoon season in just round the corner.
With this, I urgently call upon the MESTECC Minister to immediately suspend Lynas’ operating licence, stop the generation of more radioactive wastes and force Lynas to immediately find a solution to dispose the close to 600,000 tonnes of toxic radioactive wastes currently piled up in their flood prone backyard. No renewal of licence should be considered until all the existing wastes are safely disposed of.