IPOH: The Perak government plans to widen the non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) lanthanide mining operations in the Kenering sub-district near Gerik to 2,160.6 ha from the existing 87.4 ha.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the 2,160.6 ha was an area as per approved in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
He said the assessment on the opening of the new area for the NR-REE mining, however, depends on an independent body through an Audit Committee which will be set up.
The committee for the purpose of Perak's Monitoring of the Implementation of the NR-REE Pilot Project, involves 12 technical agencies and enforcement bodies; as well as other members when required.
"To fulfil the aspiration and to ensure that these activities do not bring any damaging impact to the environment, mining activities and its operations will only be allowed after all approvals are obtained first," he said during the Perak state legislative assembly today.
Saarani (BN-Kota Tampan) said this when winding up three questions posed to him related to sustainable mining and its responsibilities posed by three state assemblymen.
Saarani said as of last July, the mining pilot project had successfully generated close to RM16 million in royalties for the state government through 10 times of exportation of the mine's end product, rare earth carbonate to China.
This was compared to the RM1.66 million first royalty payment from mining operators as of last February.
"The pilot project also proves that rare earth is not radioactive and extraction through the "in-situ leaching" is the best method and does not pollute the environment.
"Based on the success of this pilot project, the state government aspires to continue with mining activities in the entire area that has obtained the EIA approval for the 2.160,6ha area," he said.
Responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Fakhruddin Abd Aziz (PN-Kamunting) on whether the state government will limit resources from logging revenue as huge profits could be garnered from NR-REE mining, Saarani said the matter must be studied further.
"As conveyed by Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) two weeks ago, the operations to extract NR-REE uses the "in-situ leaching" which does not require trees to be cut down or an area to be cleared.
"Therefore, for your question Yang Berhormat, it depends on the study, seeing that that part of the state's source of revenue is from logging," he said.