Background

This site which is the largest rare earth metals extraction plant in the world, was set up for the development of a minerals and chemical processing plant, for production of lanthanide products in Gebeng, Pahang state, Malaysia. Lynas has been developing this project since 2000. An initial feasibility study showed the original plant to be located in Western Australia. However due to project economics the plant location was moved to Zibo, Shandong, China. The basic design was commissioned by two Chinese design institutes, one for each plant. The basic design was 90% complete when Lynas made the decision to change the location to Malaysia and award the project to Ranhill Worley Parsons.

Environmental Conditions

The extraction procedure requires a chemical process using atmospheric leach technologies. The processed slurry has signifcant erosive qualities. Each tank is a large concrete structure. The project is in a location with heavy rainfall and high humidity.

Corrosion Protection

Constant exposure to the surface by corrosive media meant a high quality lining system had to be used to adhere to the life span of the project. This lining system as well as resisting corrosion had to withstand high erosion and maintain suffcient protection.

Systems

To protect concrete structured tanks from the erosive and corrosive attack from the acidic slurry, a vinyl ester FRP and acid proof tile system bedded and jointed in vinyl ester mortar was specifed.

FRP moulded base plates were mounted to the concrete and steel lids to house the nozzles. Coalescing plates were lined with a layered glass laminated vinyl ester FRP matrix. (see separate case history)

Project Details

Location	Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Project	Lynas LampsOn
Owner	Lynas Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
EPC	UGL Resources (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Date	2010
Work	Concrete & Steel Tanks
System	FRP & Ceramic Tank Lining
Area	8,000 m2
Value	US$ 5 Million