SUNGAI PETANI: The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) will present a proposal on non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) sites mapping to the National Economic Action Council (NEAC).
Its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the proposal would contain the exact mapping of the mineral deposit sites, contrary to current rough estimation of NR-REE sites.
"Following the third National Mineral Council Meeting yesterday and prior to that a meeting involving the Economy Ministry, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, NRES will present a proposal paper to the NEAC.
"Amongst the gist of the proposal is to identify the exact locations to carry out NR-REE exploration as, for the time being, we have carried out a lot of surveys and basically we are assuming the locations of the minerals.
"Secondly, (we) want to make sure that we will not just extract the raw minerals but to process some of them in our country, similar to what is being done at Lynas plant for rare earth minerals from Australia, which is different from the resources found in our country," he told reporters after leading a raid under Op Patuh on two illegal factories here today.
Nik Nazmi added that the proposal is also aimed at ensuring mineral industry operations are done sustainably to avoid future disputes.
"We also have to look into the type of suitable technology, while making sure that the minerals that we extract can be processed in our country," he said.
He added that several companies have expressed their interest in setting up processing facilities for REE minerals extracted in Kenering, Hulu Perak.
"We are studying the best options since the matter involves a huge investment and the companies are also seeking assurances from the government.
"As for rare earth minerals in Kedah, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is completed, and the state government has been informed.
"It is just that we request for the forest to be spared and the exploration to be focused on other sites first," he said.