THE Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) says the exploration and mining of heavy rare earths in Malaysia will be a potential key economic driver in the mid term.
“We see a timely opportunity to revive the mining industry here. Preliminary geological survey has shown there are rare earth deposits throughout Peninsular Malaysia.
“We want to enable Malaysia to have industrial capacity on rare earths to produce components in hybrid cars, smartphones and solar panels,” said its secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur.
She was speaking to reporters after the launch of the “Blueprint for the Establishment of Rare Earth-based Industries in Malaysia” and “Top Research Scientists Malaysia Roundtable 2014”.
Also present was Academy of Science Malaysia (ASM) president Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali.
Rare earth metals are a collection of 17 chemical elements in the periodic table, namely scandium,
yttrium and the fifteen lanthanides. Their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties help make many technologies perform with reduced weight, emissions and energy consumption.
Rare earths allow for greater efficiency, performance, miniaturisation, speed, durability and thermal stability.
As early as in the 1960s, electronics manufacturers discovered that europium and yttrium could produce the red colour in television screens.
Today, magnets that combine neodymium with iron and boron, making them exceptionally strong, are found in wind turbines, electric motors and headphones.
Another rare earth variant, lanthanum, is used in Toyota Prius battery packs.
Ahmad Tajuddin said Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang had been identified as states with rare earth deposits with commercial value.
“These rare earth-bearing mineral clays are not radioactive and safe to use. A small quantum will make all the difference, in terms of the performance, for high technology products.
“For a start, the government will invest about RM10 million to explore rare earths in Perak’s ion absorption clay since the state has been mining tin ore for over 100 years. Once this is completed, the government could provide additional allocation of RM30 million to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to undertake similar studies in other states,” said Ahmad Tajuddin.
ASM’s initial studies show that by 2020, Malaysia’s fledgling rare earths industry will be capable of attracting RM1.5 billion in foreign direct investments and creating 5,000 jobs a year.