The Truth About Lynas Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Kuantan Chui Yee: Lynas, a simple, honest

chemical processing plant in Kuantan, is somehow dragged into politic by irresponsible politicians who are out of genuine issues to fight for. Wan Qi: They aim is to fight for as they held a protest to stop Lynas from operating, claiming that the chemical processing is hazardous to human and the environment. Ezzati: Believe it or not, the public are not all aware of this whole thing about Lynas. Chui Yee, is Lynas a nuclear plant? Chui Yee: Lynas is not a nuclear plant but a simple chemical processing plant operating at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. Therefore, there will be no fire or explosion that will cause radioactive dispersion and contamination into the environment. Is it true that Lynas operation will induce cancer and cause deformed newborns? Ezzati: Statistic from Ministry of Health 2007 shows that cancer prevalence is 720 cases per million. Before LYNAS, the estimated fatal cancer from background radiation at Lynas site is 35 cases per million. With Lynas in operation, the estimated fatal cancer is 0.1 case per million. Chui Yee: I see. Wan Qi, is it true that no level of radioactivity is safe? Wan Qi: Radiation is all around us. Some areas in Perak, Selangor and Langkawi have higher than the average Malaysias level of radiation but posed no hazardous consequences. Radiation is also used in the medical field and it is perfectly safe. Chui Yee, I wonder whether the plant uses a lot of acid that can contaminate the soil? Chui Yee: All process areas are built on bunded containment concrete structure. Any acid spill will be contained in the bund and will not come into contact with the ground.

Wan Qi: Ezzati, is it possible for Radon and Thoron to travel thousands of miles away and cause health problem? Ezzati: Radon and Thoron are radioactive gases with very short half lives and will not travel far. Once formed, these radio nuclides will immediately transform into solid and cannot travel at significant distances from its base. Wan Qi, but I was confused whether the residue will be stored permanently on site. Wan Qi: No residue will be stored permanently on site. Even though the RSF is a temporary storage facility, it was designed and built to international standards of permanent storage facility. Chui Yee: Wan Qi, do you know what is rare earth element? Wan Qi: I have no idea. Chui Yee: Rare earth elements are found in many places but they are found in small quantities. Rare earths are difficult to extract and a project can take many years to develop sometimes decades. Rare earths are vital to efficient, green technology such as hybrid vehicles and wind power generation. International standards are being applied to LAMP, which process rare earth elements and they have fully endorsed and applied these standards from the start. The LAMP meets rigorous health, safety and environmental regulations which are some of the highest in the world. Ezzati: Lynas came to Malaysia for economic reasons. Gebeng access to good port facilities, high-grade chemicals, a well-educated and skilled workforce, reliable power and utility supplies and very good infrastructure. Lynas met all the regulations and approvals to build a processing plant in Australia, but chose Malaysia because it makes better business sense to be close to global customers. Wan Qi: Lynas handles material with very low levels of radiation. These materials are classified as safe, non toxic and non hazardous. There is no significant exposure or health risk from emissions to air. To demonstrate this, Lynas has installed specialised air monitoring equipment on site and

in town. Lynas stores and handles materials safely on site. This has been verified by independent, expert review. The review team was encouraged to find that Lynas is investigating safe ways to recycle and re-use its byproducts so as to minimise waste from the plant.