Lynas: Move To Replace Akzonobel With Trepax Thailand Was Purely Business Decision

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Australian mining firm, Lynas Corporation, says any claim by Dutch multinational, AkzoNobel, that it withdrew its resin supply for the rare earth refinery project in Gebeng, Kuantan (north Malaysia) on the grounds of sub-standard engineering is false. A Lynas Corp spokesperson clarified in a statement here on Thursday that the move to replace AkzoNobel, a contractor in the Lynas plant project in Gebeng with Trepax Thailand, was purely a business decision. He said this in response to a New York Times article on Wednesday that AkzoNobel withdrew from the project in the third quarter of last year after it was told that fibreglass liners using its resin would be installed in concrete-walled tanks that did not meet safety standards. The spokesperson said AkzoNobel is a chemical company which manufactures resin and that "it does not apply the resin lining, nor certify the work." Lynas Corp made a business decision to change the contract services for integrated resin sourcing, application and certification of the concrete leaching tanks to Trepax Thailand last year, he said. Trepax has over 20 years experience in the petrochemicals industry across Asia. The new contractor is applying a vinylester resin to meet international industry standard "Derakane 411" from the worldwide leader in vinylester resins, Dow Chemicals. As such, "Any claim that AkzoNobel withdrew their resin supply on the grounds of sub-standard engineering is false," he added. -- BERNAMA