The federal government has yet to approve a site for Australian rare earth miner Lynas to store low-level radioactive waste, a condition for renewing its operating licence, a state official said on Thursday.

The comments followed reports that the licence could be extended.

"So far they have identified a few potential sites, that is confirmed, but that is all," said Sallehuddin Ishak, a state official from Pahang where Lynas runs its processing plant, told Reuters.

"The state's consideration is pending the federal government’s approval," he said, adding that the site's suitability needed to be verified by experts, with the state relying on federal government agencies.

- Reuters