Opposition against Lynas Corporation Ltd’s (ASX:LYC) planned rare earths refinery in Malaysia intensified yesterday.
A group of around 20 activists held a protest in front of the company’s Sydney headquarters dressed in protective suits with radiation hazard signs.
The protest was organised by activist group Friends of the Earth who believe the refinery is not safe for residents and will damage the surrounding coastal villages and resorts should it go ahead.
Lynas is planning to process ore concentrate from its deposit at Mount Weld in Western Australia at the Malaysian site.
Friends of the Earth estimates 700,000 people live within 30 kilometres of the plant that the group says will annually produce 230,000 tonnes of toxic waste for every 22,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides.
Lynas Corporation booked a net loss of $20.5 million in the first half of its 2011 financial year.
