Malaysia renews Lynas Rare Earths license, orders end to radioactive waste by 2031
Change
Malaysia renewed Lynas Rare Earths' operating license through March 3, 2036 and ordered that any radioactive waste produced over the next five years must be treated and neutralized — including by extracting thorium — while barring any new permanent disposal facility in Malaysia.
Why it matters
Lynas must complete facility retrofits and industrialize thorium‑extraction or other neutralization processes within a five‑year window that industry testing suggests typically requires seven to ten years to scale. The license will undergo a midterm review and can be revoked for noncompliance, creating a near‑term compliance and permitting risk for the Malaysian refinery.
Implications
- • Lynas Rare Earths' Malaysian operations must complete retrofits and deploy industrial-scale thorium-extraction or equivalent neutralization technology within five years to meet the license conditions.
- • Lynas' waste management teams must halt plans for any new permanent radioactive waste disposal sites in Malaysia and revise waste-handling plans to prioritize treatment and neutralization.
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Topics
Policy & Regulation Regulatory Actions Manufacturing Materials Science Environmental Regulation