Moratorium on bauxite mining in Malaysia to be extended until March 31

The Malaysian government has once again reportedly decided to extend the moratorium until March 31, 2019, and thus, the wait continues for bauxite mining and export activities in Pahang.

The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry announced that this extension of moratorium followed an agreement between its Minister Dr. Xavier Jayakumar and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah, Sungai Lembing assemblyman, said that he was hopeful about the government allowing mining activities to resume after the finalisation of the new set of standard operating procedures (SOP). He further said a huge mining site in Bukit Goh and many other areas left unattended since the moratorium began in January 2016.

He also said when contacted today “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.”

According to him, lifting the moratorium on bauxite mining activities would certainly benefit the state government with an increasing 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 get views from the mining companies before implementing a 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,” said the former mining minister.

The ministry yesterday announced that the moratorium would only be withdrawn after the new SOP on bauxite mining, transport, stockpile management and exports was finalised, and the bauxite stockpiles from the Kuantan Port and Kemaman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.