Editing Rare-earth element (section)

====Malaysian refining plans====
In early 2011, Australian mining company [[Lynas]] was reported to be "hurrying to finish" a US$230 million rare-earth refinery on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia's industrial port of [[Kuantan]]. The plant would refine ore&nbsp;— lanthanides concentrate from the [[Mount Weld]] mine in Australia. The ore would be trucked to [[Fremantle]] and transported by [[container ship]] to Kuantan. Within two years, Lynas was said to expect the refinery to be able to meet nearly a third of the world's demand for rare-earth materials, not counting [[China]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rare.html?ref=science |title=Taking a Risk for Rare Earths |work=The New York Times |date=March 8, 2011 |others=(March 9, 2011 p. B1 NY ed.) |access-date=2011-03-09 |archive-date=June 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615115941/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rare.html?ref=science |url-status=live}}</ref> The Kuantan development brought renewed attention to the Malaysian town of [[Bukit Merah, Perak#District of Kinta, Central Perak|Bukit Merah]] in [[Perak]], where a rare-earth mine operated by a [[Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings|Mitsubishi Chemical]] subsidiary, Asian Rare Earth, closed in 1994 and left [[#Environmental considerations|continuing environmental and health concerns]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pengguna.org.my/index.php/pembangunan/alam-sekitar/768-kronologi-peristiwa-di-kilang-nadir-bumi-bukit-merah |title=Kronologi Peristiwa di Kilang Nadir Bumi, Bukit Merah |trans-title=Chronology of Events at the Rare Earth Factory, Red Hill |language=ms |publisher=Penang Consumer Association |access-date=26 August 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204084605/https://pengguna.org.my/index.php/pembangunan/alam-sekitar/768-kronologi-peristiwa-di-kilang-nadir-bumi-bukit-merah }}</ref><ref name=NYT01>{{cite news |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |title=Mitsubishi Quietly Cleans Up Its Former Refinery |newspaper=The New York Times |date=8 March 2011 |others=(March 9, 2011 p. B4 NY ed.) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rareside.html |access-date=2011-03-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229042639/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rareside.html |archive-date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> 

In mid-2011, after protests, Malaysian government restrictions on the Lynas plant were announced. At that time, citing subscription-only ''[[Dow Jones Newswire]]'' reports, a ''[[Barron's (newspaper)|Barrons]]'' report said the Lynas investment was $730 million, and the projected share of the global market it would fill put at "about a sixth."<ref name="B01">{{cite web |last=Coleman |first=Murray |url=http://blogs.barrons.com/focusonfunds/2011/06/30/rare-earth-metals-etf-soars-as-plans-to-break-chinas-hold-suffer-setback/ |title=Rare Earth ETF Jumps As Plans To Break China's Hold Suffer Setback |work=Barron's |date=June 30, 2011 |access-date=2011-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703100420/http://blogs.barrons.com/focusonfunds/2011/06/30/rare-earth-metals-etf-soars-as-plans-to-break-chinas-hold-suffer-setback/ |archive-date=2011-07-03}}</ref> An independent review initiated by the Malaysian Government, and conducted by the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) in 2011 to address concerns of radioactive hazards, found no non-compliance with international radiation safety standards.<ref>{{cite conference |title=Report of the International Review Mission on the Radiation Safety Aspects of a Proposed Rare Earths Processing Facility (Lynas Project) |conference=(29 May – 3 June 2011) |url=http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/pdf/lynas-report2011.pdf |publisher=International Atomic Energy Agency |access-date=15 February 2018 |archive-date=12 November 2011 |date=2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112121737/http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/pdf/lynas-report2011.pdf}}</ref>

However, the Malaysian authorities confirmed that as of October 2011, Lynas was not given any permit to import any rare-earth ore into Malaysia. In February 2012, the Malaysian AELB (Atomic Energy Licensing Board) recommended that Lynas be issued a temporary operating license subject to meeting a number of conditions. In September 2014, Lynas was issued a 2-year full operating stage license by the AELB.<ref name="MI 20140902">{{cite news |last1=Ng |first1=Eileen |title=Lynas gets full operating licence before TOL expiry date |url=http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lynas-gets-full-operating-licence-before-tol-expiry-date |newspaper=The [[Malaysian Insider]] |access-date=3 September 2014 |date=2 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904034335/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/lynas-gets-full-operating-licence-before-tol-expiry-date |archive-date=4 September 2014}}</ref>

In November 2024, [[Minister of Economy (Malaysia)|economy minister]] [[Rafizi Ramli]] said he hoped Malaysia is able to produce rare-earth elements within three years, through discussions with China to provide technology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporters |first=F. M. T. |date=2024-11-17 |title=Govt targets domestic REE processing within 3 years |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/11/17/govt-targets-domestic-ree-processing-within-3-years/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Free Malaysia Today {{!}} FMT |language=en}}</ref> In the past, plans to mine rare-earth elements at [[Kedah]] caused concerns of destroying forest reserves and harming water catchment areas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporters |first=F. M. T. |date=2020-12-03 |title=Ministry pours cold water on Kedah's rare earth mining plans |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/12/03/no-rare-earth-mining-without-technical-approvals-says-energy-and-natural-resources-ministry/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Free Malaysia Today {{!}} FMT |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Noorazura Abdul |date=2024-10-17 |title=NGO claims logging activities behind Kedah's worsening floods {{!}} New Straits Times |url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/1121241/ngo-claims-logging-activities-behind-kedahs-worsening-floods |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=NST Online |language=en}}</ref>