KUALA LUMPUR: The government has finalised the standard operating procedure (SOP) for bauxite mining activities and exportation in Pahang, which will be enforced with immediate effect beginning today.
Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said the SOP had been reviewed by an executive evaluation committee comprising academics, industry players and representatives from non-governmental organisations to ensure sustainable mining activities, with emphasis given on environmental protection and safety of the people.
“We took into account all the points raised by stakeholders when formulating the SOP, which imposed stringent requirements on the entire chain (involving bauxite mining activities) from pre-ming, during and post-mining processes,” he told reporters after attending a special meeting with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail to finalise the SOP.
He said the ministry, together with the Pahang state government, will also be working closely to ensure sustainable implementation of bauxite mining activities as well as managing applications for mining activities and exportation, apart from conducting enforcement and joint monitoring.
Asked if there were any amendments made to the 174-page draft of the SOP that was uploaded on the ministry’s website for feedback from the public at the end of March, he would only say what had been concluded during the meeting with Wan Rosdy was final.
He also confirmed that Kuantan Port Authority had set a monthly capacity of 600,000 tonnes of bauxite that it can handle.
“We have taken into account the points put forth by them (Kuantan Port Authority) and as well as issues raised by the Pahang government. We have come to an understanding and we have solved them (all issues).
“Though the SOP was formulated for the state of Pahang, the ministry is mulling to expand its use throughout the country through more general documents that will maintain important requirements such as mining site size, transportation methods, stockpile storage, exportation and others.”
It was previously reported that the SOP covered mining rights application planning; bauxite mining site management; stockpile and port management; transportation and enforcement methods; and, exportation procedures.
The minimum conditions set by the SOP for a mining lease or proprietary mining lease application must be at least 20ha, whether it be an individual lot or a combination of neighbouring lots.
It was also stated in the draft of the SOP that all new and as well as existing mining and stockpile sites must obtain through an approved environmental impact assessment (EIA).