What’s at Stake in Rare Earth Processing?

What’s at Stake in Rare Earth Processing?

From Earth Matters by BFM Media

April 29, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of a rare earth processing facility's license renewal and the associated environmental and ethical concerns.

A rare earth processing facility in Gebeng is back in the headlines, following the government’s decision to grant it a 10-year licence renewal. While new conditions have been introduced, civil society groups say longstanding concerns over radioactive waste, transparency, and accountability remain unresolved. At the same time, a separate agreement linking Malaysia’s rare earth supply to a foreign defence department is raising fresh ethical and legal questions. To unpack all of this, we speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia . Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Meenakshi Raman

Topics covered

  • rare earth processing
  • environmental concerns
  • radioactive waste
  • transparency
  • accountability
  • ethical questions
  • legal issues

Keywords

  • rare earth
  • processing facility
  • radioactive waste
  • transparency
  • accountability
  • Malaysia
  • ethical questions
  • legal issues

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sahabat Alam Malaysia, government, foreign defence department

Places: Gebeng, Malaysia

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