Australian company Lynas has no long term radioactive waste management plan for its Malaysian project
Lynas back to earth after loss, The Age, Greg Roberts, September 24, 2011, AUSTRALIA’S largest rare-earths miner, Lynas Corporation, has posted a 33 per cent widening in its full-year loss following a year blighted by controversy. Public protests this year prompted an investigation by the International Atomic Energy Agency into whether the Lynas rare-earth refinery in Malaysia presented radioactive risks….
Lynas’s operating expenses shot up 87.5 per cent from $30.65 million to $57.46 million. It says 11,000 tonnes a year of rare-earth oxides will be produced at Mount Weld.
Lynas received a favourable report from the IAEA about the refinery in Kuantan, but has been told to provide a long-term waste-management plan. More than 60 per cent of the refinery has been built. It is hoped the plant will curtail China’s monopoly of more than 95 per cent of the global supply of rare earths…… http://www.theage.com.au/business/lynas-back-to-earth-after-loss-20110923-1kped.html#ixzz1Yv9BaYWp
Historic Native title win for Western Australian Aboriginals over mining company
Native title blocks Weld Range mine project, PAUL CLEARY , The Australian, September 24, 2011 THE Wajarri Yamatji people of Western Australia’s Weld Range have long believed that their land was special. Now, the National Native Title Tribunal has decided the rock art, ochre mines and ancient ceremonial grounds are more valuable than $7 billion of minerals in the ground.
A ruling this week by tribunal deputy president Chris Sumner marked just the second time that it has rejected a mining application. Weld Range contains the Wilgie Mia Aboriginal site, given national heritage listing this year by the federal government.
Mr Sumner said it was an area of “outstanding importance”. It includes an ochre mine that has been worked for 30,000 years.
Traditional owner Colin Hamlet said he was “feeling really proud that we’re actually getting some notice”. He said the region offered great tourism potential because it had “a wealth of stuff”. Simon Hawkins, the chief executive of the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, which represented the Wajarri Yamatji people, said the success reflected the “consistent approach” of the traditional owners in outlining the heritage value of the land……http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/native-title-blocks-weld-range-mine-project/story-e6frgczx-1226144919702
Australia’s Lynas company’s problems – share price, governance, Malaysia protests
It is interesting to keep an eye on Australia’ s Lynas corporation. For one thing, that devious old propaganda
merchant, Ziggy Switkowski is on Lynas’ board of directors. Wherever Ziggy is, spin will abound.
For another thing, Lynas is dedicated to make a mint out of rare earths processing in Malaysia. (nothing wrong with the idea – after, making a mint is the correct mission for a corporation – its only responsibility, unfortunately).
Still – the rare earths processing is fraught with danger. Both USA and China had to stop rare earths operations, due to very bad environmental pollution, though both are now starting again. China got away with it for ages, by putting the rare earths processing in a rural area, with an unsophisticated indigenous population. But Malaysia – that is a different situation, with a much more educated and urban population, who don’t want the pollution risk.
And now – Lynas has a couple of other problems – its plummeting share price, and some questions about corporate governance
Corporate governance guidelines outlined by the Australian Securities Exchange recommend that ”the role of chair and chief should not be exercised by the same individual”.
Lynas is expected to report a full-year loss before tax of $57 million today as it ramps up towards production. Shares in Lynas closed 17.5¢, or 14 per cent, lower at $1.105 – more than 60 per cent off its April high of $2.70.
Lynas shareholders demand that chairman steps down, The Age, Philip Wen, September 23, 2011 A VOCAL group of retail shareholders in rare-earths miner Lynas is seeking to remove mining entrepreneur Nick Curtis as chairman, citing concerns over ”risks to corporate governance”. Continue reading
Malaysian MP disputes radiation opinion of Lynas’ Australian employee on rare earths
Fuziah belittles radiation expert’s analysis, Free Malaysia Today, K Pragalath, September 14, 2011 The Kuantan MP replies to criticisms by Lynas-hired Nick Tsurikov. PETALING JAYA: Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh today shot back at radiation expert Nick Tsurikov, who has disputed statements she made recently regarding the dangers posed by the rare earth project in Gebeng, near Kuantan.
She criticised his analysis as “shallow” and questioned his standing as an independent expert, noting that he was hired by Lynas Corp, the Australian mining company that is setting up the Gebeng operations……
She also said Tsurikov, who is based in Australia, was unable to understand the seriousness of the situation….
Fuziah quoted reports alleging that Lynas was using China Standards GB9133-88 as a benchmark.“I mentioned that there are no rare earth refineries in operation outside China at the moment. Thus we do not have a benchmark. Neither do we have a best practice in rare earth refining.”
Strong opposition to Toro Energy’s application to mine uranium in Western Australia
The Battle To Keep WA Uranium Free, An application has been lodged to build WA’s first uranium mine in Wiluna. It’s a shonky proposal and lacks community support. New Matilda.com By Jim Green and Mia Pepper, 13 Sept 11, Toro Energy has submitted an application to build Western Australia’s first uranium mine, at Wiluna, the beginning of WA’s iconic Canning Stock Route.
The debate over the proposed uranium mine has far-reaching ramifications. The construction of WA’s first uranium mine is likely to be the thin edge of the wedge whereas a strong show of public opposition can significantly increase the likelihood of keeping WAuranium-free. That, in turn, is important in the context of the national debate over uranium mining.
The WA Labor Opposition reaffirmed its opposition to uranium mining at its state conference in June. Recent legal advice states that an incoming Labor Government may not need to pay compensation to uranium miners if it wins the 2013 election and reinstates the uranium mining ban lifted by the Barnett Government in 2008.
The position of anti-uranium Labor Party members has been bolstered by a strong community campaign led by groups such as the WA Conservation Council and the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of WA. The August to October Walk Away From Uranium walk from Wiluna to Perth, organised by Footprints for Peace, is drumming up further support for the anti-uranium cause.
Public opinion also supports a ban on uranium mining in WA and nationally. A poll of 400 voters in four marginal Liberal-held WA seats in April found that 46 per cent opposed uranium mining, with 34 per cent in favour and 20 per cent undecided. The poll also found that among swinging voters, support for uranium mining was only 28 per cent. Voters strongly opposed to uranium mining (32 per cent) exceeded those strongly in support (8 per cent) by a factor of four.
At least two WA uranium projects have been delayed this year. In June, Mega Uraniumdelayed a feasibility study for uranium mining at Lake Maitland, and BHP Billiton put on hold the environmental approvals process for its Yeelirrie uranium project because it did not meet internal standards. The West Australian reported in June that Toro’s Wiluna project “will have to overcome weak investor sentiment in the face of a depressed uranium price and opposition to uranium mining”……
But the greatest problem with uranium mined from Wiluna — or anywhere else — is that in the best-case scenario it will end up as high-level nuclear waste. At worst it will end up as fissile material in nuclear weapons or spewing from a nuclear disaster such as that unfolding in Fukushima, Japan. http://newmatilda.com/2011/09/13/battle-keep-wa-uranium-free
Toro Energy uranium company notorious for peddling lies
The Battle to Keep WA Uranium Free, New Matilda.com By Jim Green and Mia Pepper, 13 Sept 11, “…..Toro is notorious for peddling junk science. As nuclear radiologist Peter Karamoskoswrote in The Age earlier this year:
“There seems to be a never-ending cabal of paid industry scientific ‘consultants’ who are more than willing to state the fringe view that low doses of ionising radiation do not cause cancer and, indeed, that low doses are actually good for you and lessen the incidence of cancer. Canadian Dr Doug Boreham has been on numerous sponsored tours of Australia by Toro Energy, a junior uranium explorer, expounding the view that ‘low-dose radiation is like getting a suntan’. Toro must have liked what it heard because it made him a safety consultant for the company in 2009.”
As Karamoskos goes on to note, Toro’s claims do not stand up to scrutiny: Continue reading
Why Toro’s uranium mining plan at Wiluna should be stopped
Key concerns with Toro’s plan to mine uranium at Wiluna,
by Mia Pepper and Jim Green, 9 sept 11,
* Traditional Owners are opposed to the construction of a uranium mine at
the significant sacred site of Lake Way. Toro has not completed
Archeological and Ethnographic studies and does not already have a
comprehensive Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan.
* Uranium exported from Wiluna will at best end up as high-level nuclear
waste. At worst it will end up as fissile (explosive) material in nuclear
weapons, or in a nuclear disaster such as that unfolding in Fukushima,
Japan.
* Toro does not accept responsibility for its own application, stating
that it has “not fully verified the accuracy or completeness” of its
application.
* Lake Way is home to a unique population of Stygofauna − a
newly-discovered species of subterranean crustaceans.
* Toro has not factored in recent advice from the International Commission
on Radiological Protection that radon is twice as carcinogenic as
previously thought.
* Transport plans are presented as a “preliminary draft” and the company
plans to transport its toxic, radioactive product over many thousands of
kilometres, from Wiluna to Adelaide and Darwin.
* Uranium mining and tailings disposal in this region will occur below the
water-table and will be connected to aquatic ecosystems. There is a
significant risk of contaminating the aquatic ecosystems with changes in
water chemistry, including the mobilisation of radioactive compounds.
* The legal requirement for tailings management at the Ranger uranium mine
in the NT is effective isolation for at least 10,000 years. The minimum
standard should be the same for Wiluna.
* There has not been a calcrete uranium deposit mined in Australia and
there is only one calcrete deposit presently being mined worldwide. There
is a lack of expertise and experience in engineering and mine design for
these deposits.
* Wiluna has a number of operating mines close to town and in the region.
Despite current mining activity, Wiluna still suffers from extreme
poverty, homelessness, unemployment, violence and other social problems.
Lynas Rare Earths plant to be highlighted in documentary on ionising radiation
Japanese filmmaker to highlight Lynas controversy, Free Malaysia Today, G Vinod, September 6, 2011“….A foreign documentary on the nuclear meltdown in Japan will also highlight the controversy over the Lynas rare earth refinery in Malaysia.
PETALING JAYA: A Japanese filmmaker plans to include the Lynas rare earth controversy in his upcoming documentary on nuclear radiation which is scheduled to be released in October 2011.The filmmaker, Shunji Iwai, decided to highlight the plight of the people in Gebeng, Pahang after hearing about the matter from his Malaysian counterpart, Tan Chui Mui.
Lynas Corporation Ltd plans to build a RM700 million rare earth refinery in Gebeng, to facilitate transportation of its mining products from Western Australia’s Mount Weld to the plant in Gebeng. The plant is expected to be operational by end of this year.
However, the community in Gebeng are up in arms against the project fearing radioactive contamination in the area surrounding the plant. Although the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had said the mine would be safe, Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh dismissed its report, saying that most of the findings were made based on data given by Lynas itself…….
Tan herself would be directing a few parody educational video called “Survival Guide in Radioactive Village” to create awareness among the public on the Lynas scare. The documentary is scheduled for release in October for the Japanese market. It will subsequently be released to the global audience via the Internet…http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/06/japanese-filmmaker-to-highlight-lynas-controversy/.
Call to stop transport of radioactive rare earths through Fremantle
Carles moves to ban rare earth ores in Freo – The West Australian, 5 Sept 11,Fremantle MP Adele Carles has called for the transportation of rare earth ores through Fremantle to be halted immediately because she is concerned about potential radioactivity.In a position that puts her at odds with her partner, Transport Minister Troy Buswell, and the State Government, the independent MP has claimed the rare earths, which are mined by Lynas Corporation at Mt Weld near Laverton, could be a hazard to public health and safety…..
The term “rare earths” refers to a range of metallic elements that are used in a range of modern products including high-powered magnets for wind turbines, electric hybrid vehicles, computer hard discs, smartphones and flat panel displays.
The ore contains thorium and uranium oxides, albeit at levels regulators say do not pose a radiation risk…..
Ms Carles said she was concerned Lynas’ proposal “looks like the Magellan experiment all over again”, referring to the problems Magellan Metals has had in complying with its environmental management plan to export lead carbonate through Fremantle……
Ms Carles yesterday hosted protestors from Malaysia, who are opposed to Lynas building a processing plant in Kuantan, the capital of Malaysia’s Pahang state. The protestors are concerned that the strategically important plant – the only rare earths processing facility outside China – could leave the area a toxic site…..Carles moves to ban rare earth ores in Freo – The West Australian
Big loss for uranium miner Paladin miner , and fall in share price
Paladin Energy Q4 loss widens to US$47.7M, The Canadian Press08/31/2011 PERTH, Australia – Paladin Energy Ltd (TSX:PDN), an Australia-based miner that lists on the TSX, cited higher financing costs Wednesday among reasons for a widening of its fourth-quarter and full-year loss.
Paladin Energy, which reports in U.S. dollars, said its after-tax loss for the three months ended June 30 was US$47.7 million or 6.3 cents per share, compared with a loss of US$25.2 million or 3.5 cents in the same year-earlier period….profits were affected an impairment of inventory expense of US$26.4 million at the company’s Kayelekera mine due to higher operating costs during ramp-up and the lower prevailing uranium spot price since last March’s earthquake-induce nuclear disaster in Japan.
The company also faced an earlier, US$6.3-million early buyback of convertible bonds. On the Toronto Stock Exchange, Paladin Energy shares were down nine cents at $2.16 at midday Wednesday.
No nuclear power for Western Australia – State government rules
Government rules out nuclear power for WA mines, Perth Now, AAP , August 30, 2011 THE WA government has rejected a call by mining giant Rio Tinto for it to consider using nuclear energy plants to supply some of the state’s future electricity needs. In submissions to the government’s peak energy advisory body, Rio asked why the option of nuclear power was not at least being canvassed.
But WA Energy Minister Peter Collier said there was simply no demand for nuclear energy in WA and it would not be used in the state in the next two decades.
`We have sufficient capacity through other fuel sources such as gas and coal and renewables,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Opposition Leader Eric Ripper said there was no public support for nuclear power and Labor also would not support its introduction….http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/government-rules-out-nuclear-power-for-wa-mines/story-e6frg13u-1226125360975
Cockburn City Council, Western Australia, shows how renewable energy and efficiency, can be done economically
Since 2001, the council has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 330,000 tonnes……
City of Cockburn climate change strategy leading by example, Science Network Western Australia , Chris Thomas, 24 August 2011 THE City of Cockburn has scored one of the 2011 National Awards for Local Government, recognising its work in climate change and sustainability. “Our energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects have resulted in reduced operating costs, reduced dependence on grid-supplied electricity and reduced vulnerability to electricity price increases.” —Ms Harrison.
The WA council first made a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in 1996 and now spends $650,000 each year on renewable energy systems, research, new technology and community engagement. Continue reading
1250 km walk as Western Australians protest against uranium mining
WA uranium protest to cover 1250km, Narelle Towie , PerthNow , August 21, 2011 ANTI-URANIUM protesters will begin their 1250km march from Wiluna to Perth today in their fight to have mining of the ore banned.Walk Away From Uranium Mining protesters will travel through two proposed uranium mining sites – in Wiluna and Yeelirrie – before arriving in Perth nearly a month later on October 27
Since the Barnett Government formally overturned a ban on uranium mining in November 2008, there have been dozens of exploration applications submitted in WA….
Three proposals, including BHP’s Yeelirrie, Mega Uranium’s Lake Maitland and Toro Energy’s Wiluna Lake way project, are advanced enough to begin production within the next few years.
WA Senator Scott Ludlam, who will take part in the march, said WA should joining a growing list of countries around the world, including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Greece and Ireland, who were walking away from nuclear power.
“This is an extraordinary moment for our state and for the future. The nuclear industry is in decline around the world and public awareness of the dangers of uranium mining and nuclear power is growing,: Mr Ludlam said.
“This march is a powerful statement from Western Australians who do not want uranium mining in WA and who do not want their state to support the nuclear industry in any way.” http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/wa-uranium-protest-to-cover-1250km/story-e6frg19l-1226118950758
Urgent threat of Climate Change to Western Australia
Report: Act now on climate to save WA TV Channel 9 News, 16 Aug 11, A report by the Climate Commission has predicted up to 28,900 coastal homes in Perth and Western Australia’s southwest will be flooded by the end of the century due to rising sea levels.
The Climate Commission will release a report on Tuesday titled The Critical Decade: Western Australian Climate Change Impacts. The report forecasts sea levels on WA’s coast will continue to rise at double the global average, impacting significantly on WA’s coastal infrastructure and eroding the state’s iconic beaches…….
WA’s declining rainfall and higher temperatures are also expected to have serious implications on agriculture and urban water supplies in the southwest, the report reveals. Climate Commissioner and author of the report, Professor Will Steffen, says WA’s economy, coastal infrastructure, biodiversity, mining infrastructure, agriculture and tourism industries are all vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate.
“We are more certain of the climate change risks for water resources for southwestern WA than any other part of Australia,” he said…. Professor Steffen said the risks had never been clearer, which meant action had never been more immediately necessary.
“This is the critical decade. The decisions we make this decade will determine the severity of climate change impacts our children and grandchildren suffer,” he said…. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8286068/report-act-now-on-climate-to-save-wa
Pro uranium spin revs up, in Australia and USA
Toro Energy to commence regional public information days for Wiluna uranium project Proactive investors, August 10, 2011 Toro Energ will begin the public information days on the Wiluna uranium project in regional Western Australia on August 15.
Uranium Safe to Eat With a Spoon!, OpEd News.com by David Swanson, 11 Aug 11, Carefully ignoring Fukushima, Los Alamos, Vermont, and Nebraska, a comforting new announcement informs us that “nuclear energy is safe.” A series of soothing television ads and videostells us that mining uranium in Virginia would produce jobs and protect us from scary foreigners.
Virginia newspapers carried an article from theAssociated Press this week that did not pretend to be anything but one-sided, reporting on the agenda of corporations that would profit from mining uranium while including no other views or any verified facts. The Washington Post did the very same thing. These articles are essentially press releases that have been tweaked. The online versions even include the videos.
We can expect even less actual news reporting than that (yes, less than nothing) to come through our televisions. But these ads hyping uranium mining as a job solution will be aired. And the television networks will consequently view the mining corporations as customers not to be needlessly offended or inconvenienced……
Thousands of years of danger, to provide what the uranium mining companies claim might be 65 years of uranium use. That seems like the kind of deal only a U.S. president could consider a bargain. Let’s hope Virginia still has more life left in it than Washington. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Uranium-Safe-to-Eat-With-a-by-David-Swanson-110809-895.html
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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