The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry today announced that the moratorium on bauxite extraction in Pahang has been extended for another three months.

The ministry noted that one of the conditions for the lifting of the moratorium, which was to have a standard operating procedure, had been fulfilled.

However, it said the other conditions of clearing existing stockpiles at the ports have yet to be fulfilled.

"The new SOP on mining, transportation, management and export of the stockpile was completed by a task force comprising the federal and state governments.

"Based on observational reports received and meeting with the respective agencies as at Dec 21, the stockpiles at the Kuantan and Kemaman ports have not been cleared.

"Therefore, the moratorium on the mining and exporting of bauxite from Pahang will be extended," it said in a statement today.

The ministry said the stockpile must be cleared before the new procedures regulating the activity can be implemented.

The ministry added that in light of the moratorium extension, the stop-work order on bauxite mining in Pahang remains in force.

The moratorium was to have expired tomorrow.