Lynas Corporation has hit a stumbling block in its plan to export 33,000 tonnes of rare earths concentrate through Fremantle Port each year, in the form of independent MLA Adele Carles.
Ms Carles is calling on the state government to stop Lynas’ plan, which involves trucking the concentrate around 1,000 kilometres from its Mt Weld mine, near Laverton, to Fremantle for shipping to its processing plant in Malaysia, which is currently under construction.
Her call comes despite the Environmental Protection Authority granting Lynas approval for its proposal in June 2009, on the basis that the minerals pose no radiation risk to public health or the environment.
Rare earths is the term given to fifteen metallic elements which play a key role in the manufacture of high-tech devices, such as energy efficient light-bulbs, hybrid cars, computer components, flat panel displays and magnetic resonance imaging scanners.
Ms Carles said she was unconvinced the material was “absolutely safe”, and drew the line at Fremantle becoming a bulk commodities port.
“Why should Fremantle workers and residents bear the risks associated with low level radioactive elements thorium and uranium for 20 years?” Ms Carles asked.
"Fremantle Port was never designed for modern bulk mineral export activity and there is no buffer zone to residential areas."
The Fremantle MLA likened the export of rare earths to Magellan Metals’ export of lead concentrate through Fremantle Port, despite a Department of Environment investigation in Fremantle earlier this year proving fears of lead contamination were unfounded.
The investigation into Magellan’s shipping activities was sparked by the discovery of lead-contaminated mud stuck to the outside of a shipping container at Fremantle.
That investigation followed a December examination of the company’s shipments after lead carbonate was detected in air samples taken outside double sealed bags in rail containers.
Independent laboratory testing later confirmed lead concentrate levels in Magellan’s shipping containers had not exceeded national standards.
Magellan’s shipments were ultimately halted for good, however, after trains from its Wiluna mine deviated from the allowed route in March.
Lynas fended off similar statements from Greens MPs Lynn McLaren and Robin Chapple in May, saying the comparison to Magellan’s lead carbonate concentrate was “irresponsible”.
"The Mount Weld rare earths concentrate is not considered as a radioactive material,” the company said at the time.
“The levels of the naturally occurring thorium are so low in the concentrate that the material is not regulated for transport as classified by the criteria of the Australian Code of Practice for the Safe Transport of Radioactive Material 2001 and not regulated for transport as classified by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Safe Transport of Radioactive Material regulations.”
Ms Carles' protest comes at the same time a Malaysian delegation, the Save Malaysia! Stop Lynas! movement, arrived in Western Australia to attempt to halt the construction of the processing plant.
The delegation's concerns regard the storage of rare earths, which the protestors believe could result in the release of toxic materials into the environment.
A Radiological Impact Assessment, completed by Nuclear Malaysia, on the storage of the concentrates showed them to be safe, posing no risk to the public, Lynas said.
Meanwhile, Lynas today announced a long-term supply agreement with BASF Corporation for the supply of rare earths from its processing plant in Malaysia.
The company said it remained on track for its first feed of rare earths concentrate at the plant in the fourth quarter of this year.
“This is significantly ahead of other new Rare Earths projects that have been announced outside China,” Lynas executive chairman Nicholas Curtis said.
“We believe this contract again endorses the standards and quality to which the plant is being built in Malaysia.”
At 10:25AM (WST) Lynas’ shares were down 2.8 per cent, at $1.71.
