Editor's Note: At 00:46, the location is Bukit Merah, Ipoh.

A rare earths processing plant run by Mitsubishi Chemicals in Bukit Merah, Malaysia was blamed for birth defects and leukaemia cases in the local community. The plant, which was shut down in 1994, had no long-term waste facility which resulted in radioactive waste leakage.

00:00 Why the fight over rare earths?
00:44 Bukit Merah: What happened in brief
01:56 Mitsubishi Chemicals’ former rare earth processing plant site
03:18 How radioactive waste was handled
04:07 Effects of radioactive waste pollution
06:51 A permanent radioactive waste dumpsite

Mitsubishi Chemicals spent US$100 million on the clean-up and donated to the local community in an out-of-court settlement. The radioactive contamination took years to clean up.

Have feedback or an idea for a story? Email [email protected]

Watch Power Scramble, a three-parter about the power struggle over critical metals that are essential for high-tech applications and carbon-free future:
Part 1: Why Is It So Hard For The West To Break China's Hold On Rare Earths?    • Can Anyone Challenge China's Near Mon...  
Part 2: What Happens When China Controls The World’s Most Coveted Metals?    • From Malaysia To Myanmar: Paying A Pr...  
Part 3: Can Vietnam Break China’s Near Monopoly On This Critical Metal?    • Vietnam's Challenge To China's Domina...  

Also watch:
Is A New US-China Trade War Brewing – Over Batteries?:    • Is A New US-China Trade War Brewing –...  
The Real Price Of Indonesia’s Mercury-Poisoned Gold:    • The Real Price Of Indonesia’s Mercury...  
Is Coal Mining Destroying The Great Barrier Reef:    • Is Coal Mining Destroying The Great B...  

For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER!
https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub

Follow CNA INSIDER on:
Instagram:   / cnainsider  
Facebook:   / cnainsider  
Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider