The Malaysian government has announced that an independent investigation on the planned rare earth facility by an Australian company is now being conducted to fast-track the report by next month.

Reports from state-run Bernama News Agency and AP have confirmed reports that rare earths facility by Australian miner Lynas in eastern Malaysia will be evaluated by a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The completion of the rare earths facility can match the capacity churned by China plants. Rare earths are a key element in technologically advanced gadgets especially Apple Inc.'s products like the iPad and iPhones.

Malaysia's trade ministry said a delegation from the IAEA was starting talks on Monday with activists worried about low-level radioactive waste from the planned plant.

Malaysian authorities are expected to decide whether to let the plant proceed with refining ore from Western Australia after the panel submits its report next month.

Lynas says the plant will have state-of-the art contamination controls.

Independent study

The findings of the independent expert team on the health and safety aspects of the proposed rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang, is expected to be made known by end-June.

Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the expert panel, would undertake a comprehensive review of the project as well as discussions with stakeholders.

"The expert panel will undertake the review from May 29-June 3," he told reporters after the MITI and its agencies monthly gathering here Thursday.

The scope of the expert panel's review embraces transport, radiation protection (occupational, public and environmental), safety assessment, waste management as well as decommissioning and environmental remediation.

Mustapa hoped that certain parties would not politicise the issue of the plant's construction until the findings are made known.

He also invited the public who had an opinion on the project to send their views via e-mail or write in to the ministry.