Bauxite mining ban in Pahang could extend up to 2018, says Environment Minister

According to a report from Malaysian Reserve, the moratorium on bauxite mining in Pahang may extend until 2018. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar cites the huge stockpile for the aluminium ore as a reason for this extension.

Despite the implementation of the moratorium in January 2016, bauxite stockpile stands at a sizeable 4.15 million metric tonnes, Wan Junaidi told The Malaysian Reserve. The ban already got a two quarterly extensions by the government and the current ban is going to be over on Dec 31 this year. Reportedly, only 1.27 million tonnes of bauxite have been exported through Kuantan Port and Kemaman from a total of 5.4 million tonnes since January till September.
 
“My stand is very easy. As long as the stockpile cannot be cleared, the moratorium stays,” he told TMR at the Parliament on October 19.



He said that unless the stockpile comes down to a decent level the moratorium cannot be lifted.
“Based on the stockpile and experience that we have since the moratorium was introduced; there is not much movement in reducing the stockpile. Therefore, the moratorium can go on by another year or two,” he said.

His aim is to make “Kuantan free from bauxite pollution” and the ministry has issued 38 special approved permits (APs) to export the bauxite stockpile.  Some of the permits are still unutilised, but the progress has slowed down and the ministry can issue more permits if there is some progress.

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Wan Junaidi also said that the government has already agreed upon the revised guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) for future bauxite mining and exports.  The documents have been have been forwarded to the Pahang state government and relevant ministries to get their views before tabling it to the Cabinet.

“Once the state government gives me the signal that the bauxite industry can be opened back, we will release the SOP and rules,” he added.
 
The new comprehensive SOP would specify rules on mining, transport routes, types of vehicles to be used and port’s role before shipping the bauxite and it is now being discussed and finalised at the ministry level.
 
Malaysia is now the world’s top bauxite producer and the leading supplier of bauxite to China’s aluminium industry.