Beleaguered Australian miner Lynas Corp., whose Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Malaysia continues to be embroiled in a nasty game of domestic politicking and misinformed public, has been given a thumbs up for safety and low radiation emission no less than by a Malaysian radiology expert.

Professor Ismail Bahari, radiology safety adviser for Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, assured the Malaysian locals the rare earth processing plant at the Gebeng Industrial Estate in Kuantan, Pahang, is safe and nontoxic.

Although the Malaysian radiology expert did not deny there will be no radiation from the plant, "the amount is minimal and not harmful. Every worker will adhere to safe operation procedures like in any other industries. We have taken into account public and environmental concerns," Mr Bahari, who is also a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, told Malaysian national news agency Bernama.

The first phase of construction works on the LAMP is almost complete, with just the temporary operating license (TOL) left to formally start the rare earths plant's operation.

"In terms of safety, the plant is safe and Lynas will ensure it remains so... radiation from the rare earths factory would be low and would not have an adverse impact on the local residents."

"Our operating procedures are all based on international safety standards."

Local residents, as well as Malaysian political wannabes, had decried the plant will produce radioactive waste harmful to the immediate community and the environment. Environmentalists and Kuantan residents claimed, for one, the radioactive waste would contaminate the sea water and destroy the town's fishing industry, one of Kuantan's main sources of economy.

But the objections, Mr Bahari pointed out, were baseless and unsupported with valid evidence.

"The person who led the allegations never came to Lynas, never suggested or showed to Lynas what the real issue is. Each time Lynas comes out with an explanation, we show the proof, we give handouts to the public and also the opposition."

"They can read and challenge us. But they have never challenged us on all the information provided," Mr Bahari added.

Even then, the LAMP rare earths facility was not classified as a major hazard under the Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards, Mr Bahari said, noting the confirmations the plant received from the Atomic Energy Licensing Board as well as from the Malaysian departments of Environment and, Occupational Safety and Health.

Eric Noyrez, president and chief operating officer of Lynas Corp., had earlier pointed out that the residues to be produced from the LAMP will be converted into fertilisers, plaster boards, other hardcore base for road construction and other potentially economically viable products. There would be essentially nothing left of the ill residue, Mr Noyrez noted.

"We have no intention to dump the waste (from LAMP) as we see money in them and have developed the technology to turn them into saleable items. All these have been done at both laboratory and pilot scales, using between 100 and 200 tonnes of the raw material," Mr Noyrez said earlier this month.

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