An employee at work in the Lynas processing plant in Kuantan,Malaysia.

An employee at work in the Lynas processing plant in Kuantan,Malaysia.Credit:Ian Teh

The company on Wednesday said it had now applied for a"critical industry"exemption after the government extended the restrictions until April 28. Lynas pointed out that its products were essential ingredients in the supply chains of critical industries including the automotive sector,medical devices including ventilators,and oil refining.

In its quarterly report released on Wednesday,Lynas said it had produced 4465 tonnes of rare earths oxides in the three months to March 31,compared with 5444 tonnes over the same period last year.

"Lynas Malaysia has applied for approval to operate and we await the government’s decision,"chief executive Amanda Lacaze said.

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"Products produced at the Lynas Malaysia plant are essential to the manufacturing supply chains for critical industries in Malaysia."

The future of Lynas in Malaysia was thrown into doubt in 2018 when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gained power as part of a coalition which included groups that had called for the closure of the miner's operations in the country due to concerns over toxic waste issues. In February,Lynas finally received a much-needed three-year extension to its licence to operate.

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