KUANTAN: The wait continues for bauxite mining operators in the state capital here after the government yesterday decided to extend the moratorium - for the ninth time - until March 31.
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry announced that this was following an agreement between its Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
Sungai Lembing assemblyman Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah, whose constituency has a huge abandoned bauxite mining site, said he hoped that once the new set of standard operating procedures (SOP) are finalised, the government will allow mining activities to resume.
“There is a huge mining site in Bukit Goh and many areas which have yet to be mined for the mineral, but the area has been left unattended since the moratorium was enforced in January 2016. None of the mining sites have been covered up as the settlers are still waiting for the green light from the government.
“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. So I hope that they will be able to give settlers some good news soon,” he said when contacted today.
Md Sohaimi said lifting the moratorium on bauxite mining activities would certainly benefit the state government as they will have a source of income through bauxite royalty.
Meanwhile a former mining operator, who declined to be named, said the task force preparing the SOP on bauxite mining, transport, stockpile management and exportation should also get the views from the mining companies here before implementing the new set of guidelines.
“They cannot simply introduce a new law as it will be unfair for the small mining operators. The established ones might be able to adhere to their SOP but the smaller ones, especially those in Bukit Goh, might need time to adopt and make the required changes.
“It is going to be almost three years since the moratorium was enforced but the remaining stockpile in both Kuantan Port and Kemaman Port have yet to be cleared....how much of stockpile is left and how long will it take to be cleared,” he said when met at Bukit Goh here.
In September last year, Pahang Mineral Operators Association adviser Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Abdul was reported saying the current moratorium had resulted in losses including job opportunities, revenue from bauxite mining royalties, taxes, related development and economic spillover.
The ministry yesterday announced that the moratorium would only be withdrawn after the new SOP on bauxite mining, transport, stockpile management and exports was finalised, and the bauxite stockpiles from the Kuantan Port and Kemaman Port were completely removed.