Environment Minister says SOP for bauxite mining at Pahang to be ready by June

Amidst the uncertainty over the restarting of mining operations in Pahang, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining activities in Pahang is expected to be completed by June 2018.

He added that the SOP was prepared after considering the environmental impact assessments submitted by several third party agencies and input from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“The SOP will ensure that bauxite mining and export comply with the set regulations and not cause pollution,” he said.

He told the reporters that the ministry will bring out the SOP study results to discuss with the Pahang Government and industry players before implementing it.  He made this announcement while officially inaugurating the Rumah Ihsan Wan Junaidi Project at Kampung Panglima Seman Ulu at Pahang.

In March 2018, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi said the ban had been extended to June 30, to give the government time to finalise a regulatory framework to prevent a repeat of the environmental damage. The country was struggling with a stockpile that was yet to be cleared despite an official halt to mining activities more than two years ago.