Transport of bauxite to be thoroughly streamlined

Several improvements will be implemented to streamline the transportation of bauxite for export after the stockpile seizure order was withdrawn by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said these improvements encompassed a more detailed scrutiny of Approved Permit applications, especially on the locations and amount of stockpile to be exported, subject to the approval of the state government and technical review from the Minerals and Geoscience Department.

“Amendments will also be made to the Mineral Development (Licensing) Regulations 2016 to expedite the process of bauxite transportation for export purposes.

“With these improvements, bauxite transportation can be better monitored to prevent pollution and protect the well-being of local residents,” it said in a statement.

“With the withdrawal of the seizure, the ministry has agreed to consider bauxite export applications during the moratorium only under several conditions, including the clearing of stockpile at Kuantan Port in Pahang and Kemaman Port in Terengganu.”

The consideration for export applications also included companies that paid royalty fees to the state government but had not carried out export activities as well as the transportation of stockpile from the proposed new state administration centre in KotaSAS.

“The ministry, through a committee that has been formed and chaired by the ministry’s secretary-general and staffed by Federal and state agencies such as the Civil Defence Force and the Land and Mines Office, will supervise this activity and ensure all bauxite transportation is being controlled in an orderly manner.

“Action will be taken against any parties that transport bauxite without approval,” it said.

As for the moratorium that will expire on Dec 31, the ministry said the Cabinet had agreed to extend the period until June 30 next year after getting input from the ministry and the Pahang government.

The moratorium was first introduced in January last year to cut down pollution caused by unregulated bauxite mining. It had been extended several times since then.

The ministry’s statement came after the MACC announced on Dec 21 that it would revoke the seizure order on the estimated 10 million tonnes of bauxite stockpile in Pahang.

The MACC issued the order in August to facilitate investigations into illegal bauxite mining in the state.