Lynas Wins Approval for Malaysian Rare Earths Plant
Lynas Corp. has been received approval from the Malaysian government for its rare earths processing facility.
The Atomic Energy Licensing Board approved a 2 year operating licence for the $200 million advanced materials plant at Gebeng.
Nic Curtis, the executive chairman of Australian company Lynas said that the doubt was not about them but about the Malaysian process. He was pleased that the process had met its legal and regulatory needs as prescribed.
There had been some concerns over the radioactive waste management at the plant which had led to some delays. The International Atomic Energy Agency had suggested last summer that a plan for permanent waste disposal be approved before the refinery starts operations. Now the company has the necessary approvals in hand to proceed with the construction. The refinery will be built in Kuantan in Malaysia. It is likely to open by the second quarter this year.
Mr. Curtis said that there had been much talk about a politicising of this by the government, but they have allowed the regulators, independently, to determine the licence issue. The company has been taken aback by some of the alarmist claims that have been made, but they have had to deal with them and try and get the proper information out there and the regulators have based their decision on fact, not emotion.
Written by
Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
APA
Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). Lynas Wins Approval for Malaysian Rare Earths Plant. AZoMining. Retrieved on February 04, 2026 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5897.
MLA
Scanlon, Joel. "Lynas Wins Approval for Malaysian Rare Earths Plant". AZoMining. 04 February 2026. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5897>.
Chicago
Scanlon, Joel. "Lynas Wins Approval for Malaysian Rare Earths Plant". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5897. (accessed February 04, 2026).
Harvard
Scanlon, Joel. 2019. Lynas Wins Approval for Malaysian Rare Earths Plant. AZoMining, viewed 04 February 2026, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=5897.
We're committed to providing free access to quality science. By registering and providing insight into
your preferences you're joining a community of over 1m science interested individuals and help us to
provide you with insightful content whilst keeping our service free.
or
Terms
While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena
answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses.
Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or
authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for
medical information you must always consult a medical
professional before acting on any information provided.
Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with
OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their
privacy principles.
Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential
information.
Read the full Terms & Conditions.