PENANG, 22 Jan 2013 - Malaysia has the potential to process its own rare earth elements within the next ten years, taking into account several factors before it can be successfully realised.

Lecturer from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources (SMMR), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Radzali Othman said, ‘rare’ means ‘uncommon’ and the term ‘rare earth element’ means a chemical element that can be found in a small percentage of the earth including in the area of tin mines, clay and others.

He said the rare earths are usually present together with earth resources or ores which can be processed to produce a variety of advanced materials for use in areas such as the automotive industry for hybrid car manufacturing and in the computer drives.

“If you look at the current situation, people tend to see rare earth processing in a negative perspective, assuming that all the rare earth elements pose harm to safety and health.

“The fact is that not all rare earth elements are dangerous and contain high radioactive materials, an example of which is rare earth that are extracted from clay-based sources. Actually it is much safer and does not cause harm,” he said.

He said this in a press conference held in conjunction with the 5th AUN/SEED-Net Regional Conference on Materials Engineering (RCM5) and the 5th Regional Conference on Natural Resources and Materials Engineering (RCNRM5) here today.

Also present were the SMMR Dean, Prof. Hanafi Ismail and two keynote address speakers, Texchem Group Founder Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Fumihiko Konishi and Professor Ahmad Fauzi Mohd. Noor (USM).

Radzali who is also the chairman of the conference said that technology and knowledge in the management and processing of rare earths has existed in the country, including experts who were sent for further study and training abroad.

“However, this industry faces several challenges that included the high cost incurred to manage rare earths because of their scarcity and found in specific locations only.

“Investors are also looking at this matter in detail because it involves costs and have to go through a long process,” he said.

In the meantime, the two-day conference drew more than 150 participants from within and outside the country, focusing on issues of current concern, regionally and globally.

Among the issues highlighted at the RCM5 included materials in medical use, materials for the environment, new and renewable energy, science and engineering materials, electronic materials and nano materials.

In contrast, in RCNRM5, the focus would be on environmental and geological engineering, mining and mineral processing, natural/material resources, and also the processing and use of rare earth elements in advanced materials.

Both conferences were successful in getting the support of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan, ASEAN Foundation and the AUN/SEED-Net (ASEAN University Network /Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network). - Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias/Photo: Mohd. Fairus Md. Isa/Translation: Yong Check Yoon