Malaysia’s Atomic Energy Licensing Board has granted a temporary two-year operating license to the newly built Australian-owned Lynas rare earth refinery, despite an on-going court case involving local activists that oppose the plant. Fearing contamination from mildly radioactive material found in some rare earths, environmental advocates have fought bitterly to prevent the plant’s operation. The Stop Lynas campaign said it was seeking a court injunction against the license, and advocacy group Himpunan Hijau threatened to block access at the rare earths’ port of entry. Authorities said the two-year trial operating period would allow them to evaluate the company’s safety standards before a permenent license was issued.
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