Pahang bauxite operators to foot the bill for Adherex 120 red dust-control technology

Malaysia Pahang's bauxite operators will have to foot the bill once the state government decides to adopt the ore dust control agent known as Adherex 120.

The state government was yesterday given a demonstration of the product, which aims to cut down on the 'red dust' phenomenon which has hit the town following a spike in bauxite mining activities there.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob after the demonstration, said he was satisfied with the effectiveness of the product and will consider using it to control the problem of bauxite dust pollution in the state.

"Although we may not achieve a 100 per cent dust-free environment, we could at least minimise the effect. Based on the demonstration, Adherex 120 seems to be effective as it has managed to reduce the bauxite dust."

"However, we will have to wait for a detailed cost presentation before making any decision," Menteri Besar Datuk said.

Adherex 120 was formulated by Canada-based company Kam Biotechnology Ltd, a product of research by Prof Mongi Ferchihi from Tunisia. Ferchihi, who earlier demonstrated the bauxite dust cleaning method using Adherex 120, was confident that the product could solve the bauxite dust problem.

"Adherex 120 once sprayed on the road, can control dust and could lasts up to a week."

Ferchihi said Adherex 120 is also used by the Oman Cement Company to control dust at their quarry area.

"It helps transform smaller dust particles larger ones, which prevents dust from being blown everywhere. It helps to stabilise molecules present in the dust," he said.