malaysiangThe Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA) is collaborating with the Perak state government to develop a pilot project for mining of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) in Mukim Kenering, Hulu Perak.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the proposed mining at the pilot project site is a government initiative to ensure NR-REE mining activities are carried out efficiently and orderly, through standard operating procedures (SOPs) developed (after feedback) before being expanded to other states.
He said the NR-REE SOP document was developed comprehensively after scrutiny at the federal and state government levels.
“It (the document) is also evaluated by an executive committee comprising experts in the fields of mining, hydrology, hydrogeology and sustainable development before being agreed at the Cabinet level on Dec 2, 2021,” he said in a statement today.
On Dec 24 last year, Takiyuddin in a statement said the public hearing on the NR-REE SOP in Perak concluded that the development of NR-REE should be focused on large-scale mining.
Meanwhile, in addition to upstream development, Takiyuddin said KeTSA was also looking into the potential of developing the middle and downstream levels for the NR-REE industry, to ensure the economic potential could be fully realised and not just rely on the export of raw minerals.
According to him, the NR-REE mining that is carried out in Malaysia, especially in Perak, will be implemented responsibly so that environmental sustainability and safety of the masses will be guaranteed with the creation of the SOP.
He said a meeting with Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad today was to finalise the NR-REE SOP document in Perak.
“I express my appreciation to YAB (Yang Amat Berhormat) Menteri Besar (Saarani) for bringing this matter up for consideration and approval by the State Executive Council,” he said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency
