Gov't to allow more bauxite mines if new SOP works
PARLIAMENT | The government will re-open bauxite mining activities in the country if the new standard operating procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining activities prove effective, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said.
He said, currently the Pahang government is testing the effectiveness of the implementation of the new SOP in the existing bauxite mines in Pahang.
PARLIAMENT | The government will allow more bauxite mines to be opened in Malaysia, according to Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said.
This is after the testing of the new standard operating procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining activities and exports proved effective, he said.
He expects new licenses could be issued earliest by the end of this year.
He said currently the Pahang government is testing the effectiveness of the implementation of the new SOP in the existing bauxite mines in Pahang.
"To test the effectiveness of the new SOP, the state government agreed that only a few operators in Gebeng, Kuantan, are allowed (to operate) after obtaining approvals," Xavier told the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session.
"We were informed that the Pahang state government proposed that it needed six months to examine the effectiveness of the new SOP before this mining activity is opened statewide and in the country," he said.
According to Xavier, the implementation of the new SOP for bauxite mining, which took effect on Sept 5, makes it compulsory for the operators to obtain the approved environmental impact assessment (EIA) certification.
The government will cancel the operating permit of any bauxite mine operator that failed to observe the new SOP, he added.
Besides the approval of EIA, other criteria set in the new SOP included a minimum size of the bauxite mines, which can cover at least 20ha of land.
Bauxite mining in Pahang was halted via a moratorium issued on Jan 15, 2016, following complaints from residents on air pollution and dangers posed by lorries transporting bauxite.
Bauxite mining allegedly caused several districts around Kuantan to be enveloped in red dust and earned the nickname ‘Planet Mars’, apart from turning rivers and waters red in Kuantan.
Earlier this year, the government lifted the mining ban due to strong demand for bauxite. However, the bauxite miners must conduct an environmental impact study on their sites before receiving licences to restart operations.
When met at the Parliament lobby, Xavier said three new players were interested in bauxite mining.
"Three big companies are very interested. This needs a bit of capital injection. Only companies that have enough capital will be able to apply because there is a lot of regulations you have to follow," he told media.
"We think we will be able to give mining licenses by the end of December or early January next year," he said.
He said the six months trial is meant to close any loophole in the new SOP.
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