Latest SOP document for bauxite mining in Pahang ready to be finalised, says Ministry

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining and export in Pahang, Malaysia, is ready to be finalised, bringing miners one step closer to resuming bauxite ore extraction activities. Such was the announcement by Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr. A. Xavier Jayakumar on August 3, 2019.

He said the ministry and the Pahang state government would jointly review the procedures soon and determine a date for the SOP to go into effect.

“The SOP document will then be uploaded on the ministry’s website for reference by all parties concerned,” explained the minister.

According to the report, Xavier made this announcement referring to a criticism that was published on an online news portal titled “Ministry SOP delay frustrates bauxite mining operators”.

Xavier further said the latest draft of SOP includes strict conditions covering the entire chain of bauxite mining activities from exploration to export, taking into account the views of all stakeholders and ensuring economic progress, environmental responsibility, and the popular well-being.

“The preparation of the document went through a number of processes including the public hearing session on April 14, attended by 519 people and collected 56 verbal and online responses,” concluded Xavier.

On March 31, 2019, the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry of Malaysia had unveiled the proposed rigid standard operating procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining and export activities in Pahang. The SOP then stated the Malaysian government capped its monthly bauxite exports at 600,000 tonnes.