Lynas wins appeal against Malaysian operations

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia's Court of Appeal on Wednesday dismissed an appeal against a temporary operating licence for Australian mining company Lynas Corp, despite protests over alleged radioactive hazards.

The decision enables the Sydney-based rare earths miner to continue operations at its US$800 million (S$ 975 million) plant in the eastern town of Kuantan, in Pahang state, in the face of residents' opposition.

The appeal court affirmed a lower court decision which denied a group of residents living near the facility a stay of Lynas' temporary licence, pending a judicial review.

Lynas secured the licence in early September and began production on November 30 although activists have been protesting over alleged radioactive hazards since early 2011.