Nik Nazmi: In situ leaching in Perak a success, more to come

The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry has proposed to develop a new in situ leaching (ISL) pilot project for the mining of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) in permanent forest areas.

Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said this is due to the resounding success of the pilot project in Mukim Kenering, Hulu Perak and the Perak state government’s request to review the existing policy, which does not support nor allow mining activities in sensitive areas.

The details surrounding the implementation of mining activities in permanent reserve forests will be refined through the national mineral policy.

“To determine the feasibility of it and monitor the impacts on forest cover, biodiversity and the environment, the ministry has proposed to develop a new pilot project in the permanent reserve forest area.

“The ministry together with the Mineral and Geoscience Department, Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia and related technical departments and agencies will evaluate and select the location of the permanent reserve forest area that is suitable to be used as a pilot project area,” the minister said in a written response to Malaysiakini.

Last month, Nik Nazmi said the national mineral policy was at 80 to 90 percent completion and was awaiting approval from the National Mineral Council before being brought to cabinet.

The NR-REE mining method involving ISL involves the use of a low-concentration ammonium sulphate solution that is injected into the soil containing NR-REE.

This solution will then extract NR-REE from the clay through an ion exchange reaction and be channelled out through the piping system and collected at the foot of the hillside for the next process.

“The ISL mining method carried out in ion adsorption clay areas requires that it can only be implemented for REE piles located above the groundwater level, firstly to guarantee the effectiveness of the targeted leaching process and secondly to avoid contamination of the groundwater.

“It should be noted that the ISL mining method is only carried out for ion-adsorption clay piles on hills and not on flat ground,” Nik Nazmi said.

Sustainable method

Meanwhile, Nik Nazmi said that the pilot project in Perak was considered a success, with results from continuous monitoring indicating minimal negative impacts, especially on the environment, surface and underground water sources, slope stability and other related aspects.

“NR-REE mining using the ISL method is the latest sustainable method where the impact on the environment can be controlled, low operating costs and a good level of job security.

“The results of the audit found that the project manager had complied with the requirements in the SOP and the requirements of the technical agencies involved,” he said in a written response to Malaysiakini.

Nik Nazmi said that based on the audit review by the ministry, done through the Mineral and Geoscience Department, the ISL mining method is proven to be safe and has a minimal environmental impact than traditional mining methods, such as open pit mining.

He added that apart from the auditor's evaluation, one of the key elements contributing to the success of this pilot project is the ministry's efforts in educating mine operators to ensure that the mining is carried out responsibly and sustainably per the prescribed SOP.

The NR-REE pilot project in the Kenering sub-district, Gerik, which is implemented in an area of 84.6ha, began its operations in October 2022 after obtaining the relevant legal approval from technical agencies and permission to operate from the state authorities.

Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad in September announced plans to widen the lanthanide mining operations in Kenering to 2,160.6ha, as approved in the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment report.

However, he said the assessment of the opening of the new area for the NR-REE mining is dependent on an independent body through an audit committee which will be set up.

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