KUALA LUMPUR: Operational Mining Scheme (OMS) approvals on bauxite mining will not be issued until all conditions are met.
Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the Minerals and Geoscience Department will not certify for OMS approval until conditions are fulfilled by the bauxite miners.
He also gave his assurances that action would be taken against illegal miners.
“The Minerals and Geoscience Department will not issue an OMS approval to mining license holders until all OMS requirements are met in compliance with environmental impact assessment requirements.
“You (illegal miners) break the law and you will be taken to court. The ministry has taken action to strengthen the standard operating procedure (SOP) which will impose stringent conditions covering the whole chain of mining activities; starting from the pre-mining stage, during post mining, including recovery plans, logistics handling and stockpile at the port,” he said, indicating the approval will be part of the bauxite mining SOP.
Jayakumar said the bauxite mining enforcement will be put under the state government purview according to the Pahang State Mineral Enactment 2001.
However, he said the moratorium on bauxite mining and export will only be lifted after all relevant agencies are in agreement to enforce the SOP on mining and export activities in Pahang.
“It is to ensure that bauxite mining activities are implemented in a sustainable manner. Even though the moratorium will end on March 31, it does not mean bauxite mining will start on April 1.
“It can only be done when the bauxite mining was told to cease operation in January 2016 are withdrawn as required under the Mineral Development Act 1994,” he said.
Jayakumar added that a public hearing session will be held on April 14, with stakeholders and non-governmental organisations.
The full report on the bauxite mining SOP can be obtained through the ministry’s official website, www.kats.gov.my, from March 31 onwards.