International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said he would get an update soon on Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s progress in complying with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) 11 recommendations.

Mustapa said Lynas was currently at various stages of complying with them.

“Lynas will only be given the nod to operate once it fulfils all the recommendations.

“I’ll be given an update in the next few days. From what I know, they have been able to achieve compliance.

“They are at various stages in achieving compliance,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a briefing on Malaysia in the Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012 in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said his ministry would ensure that the recommendations were enforced.

“It’s work in progress. We are making sure that the recommendations are enforced,” he said.

The government has set up a task force to oversee the implementation of the IAEA’s recommendations to improve safety at the plant in Gebeng, Pahang.

The committee is jointly chaired by his ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, while members come from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry and Pahang state government.

According to reports, the recommendations included technical and safety measures as well as a decommissioning plan for the plant that’s nearing completion.

Lynas had said it expected to fulfill all the recommendations by year-end and would sell the metal by the beginning of next year.

Lynas is a unit of Lynas Corp Ltd, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

- Bernama