Lynas says its WLP residue can be used in fertilisers, reduce imports of phosphate

PETALING JAYA: The Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue from the Lynas Malaysia plant could be used in fertilisers and help reduce imports of rock phosphate, says the company's representatives.

In a statement, the company’s representatives said the WLP residue that is generated by the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (LAMP) in Kuantan could be used as a source of phosphate in fertilisers.

“Studies have proven that the WLP residue, which is an iron phosphate generated by the Lynas Malaysia plant, can be used as a source of phosphate in fertilisers and soil conditioners.

“In terms of radioactivity, WLP residue, phosphate rock and even phosphate fertilisers have been shown to contain low levels of naturally occurring radioactive material.

“The radioactivity in WLP residue is comparable to those found in phosphate rock and phosphate fertilisers. Phosphate fertilisers have been repeatedly applied in agriculture since it was first discovered,” read the statement issued Monday (May 27).

The statement was a joint one by Lynas Malaysia radiation safety general manager Prof Dr Ismail Bahari and Lynas Malaysia managing director Datuk Mashal Ahmad.

They said Malaysia spends about RM114mil on imported rock phosphate, and the WLP residue could potentially be a suitable alternative to the imports.

“According to Statistics Department of Malaysia, in 2018, Malaysia imported 357,531 tonnes of fertilisers containing phosphorite at a cost of about US$27.5mil (RM115mil).

“The use of WLP residue as a phosphate source could reduce the reliance on imported rock phosphate,” they said.

They said the move could potentially benefit the palm oil industry, citing soil chemistry and plant nutrition expert Prof Dr Mohd Hanafi Musa of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

“The main consumer of fertilisers in Malaysia is the palm oil industry, innovation is required to improve both yields and profitability of palm oil planers. The most affected are smallholders who would be the main beneficiary of improved yields,” they quoted him.

The Lynas Malaysia representatives added that using the WLP residue as an alternative for imported rock phosphate would align with the government’s aim to boost environmental sustainability.

“Lynas’ locally produced WLP can provide an alternative and sustainable option to importing significant quantities of rock phosphates and phosphate fertilisers,” they said.