Ministry says moratorium on bauxite mining in Malaysia to be lifted in April 2019

A local media update from Malaysia today says that the moratorium on bauxite mining activities will be lifted in April 2019. This was announced by the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry of Malaysia.

Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar added that the order will require clearance of the existing 435,000 tonnes of bauxite stockpiled at the Kuantan and Kemaman ports by March 31. He had inspected the bauxite mining activities at the mentioned sites in Malaysia on Monday (Feb 18) morning and made the announcement.

"We are asking all involved to cooperate with the ministry and the state to get it done in the coming month," he said.

Dr Xavier said the Cabinet had agreed to a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which would cover all aspects of bauxite mining sector, from mining to exports.

"Those who disregard the rules will be heavily penalised. I will strictly enforce this SOP," he added.

The lifting of moratorium will put an end to the uncertainties faced by the legal bauxite miners in Malaysia while streamlining the mining processes in the line of proper environmental procedures. This would benefit the state government with an increasing source of income through bauxite royalty.

In January, Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah, Sungai Lembing assemblyman, said that he was hopeful about the government allowing mining activities to resume after the finalisation of the new set of standard operating procedures (SOP). 

“There seems to be some positive progress in terms of discussions between the federal and state government along with the enforcement agencies to allow mining activities to resume.”