Lynas has reiterated that it needs the temporary operating licence (TOL) for its rare earth refinery to start operations and prove they are safe, said its managing director Datuk Mashal Ahmad.
He said the TOL would enable them to show that the actual operation numbers were the same as the one submitted in Lynas’ application for the licence.
“Our position is very clear. We need the licence to be issued as soon as possible because the plant is ready to fire up in three weeks while it takes one month just to bring in the rare earth ore,” Mashal told The Star when contacted Friday.
Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) director-general Raja Datuk Abdul Aziz Raja Adnan had said the issuance of the licence had been suspended pending the hearing of an appeal from a group of residents by the Science, Technology and Innovation Minister on April 17.
The appeal is scheduled to be heard at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency in Bangi, where Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili will hear submissions from Save Malaysia Stop Lynas chairman Tan Bun Teet and three others.
Mashal said any more delays would impact the company’s suppliers, 90 per cent of whom were from Malaysia.
“The delay not only affects Lynas but also our raw material suppliers and customers, which in turn will impact the whole supply chain,” he said.
