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Perak govt gets planning permission for lanthanide mining [NSTTV]

IPOH: The state government has received the green light to carry out lanthanide mining in Hulu Perak.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the planning permission was received from the Gerik District Council last week.

"I was informed about it (the approval) last week by Perak State Secretary (Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim).

"We need to get two certificates and one of them is the Environmental Monitoring Procedure (EMP). We haven't received the EMP yet, so we can't carry out lanthanide mining (until then)," he said.

Saarani said this at a press conference after attending a Mesra Programme with firemen at the Perak Fire and Rescue Department headquarters here today.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the rare earth lanthanide mining project has been approved, he said, adding that the state government would not break its promise and will comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP).

"The SOP is quite strict and we must abide by it before proceeding with the lanthanide mining.

"Even though the council has issued the planning permission, it is a conditional permission, which means we need to get an EMP certificate. So, we still have to wait," he said.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan in the Dewan Rakyat had said that the mining was expected to begin this month, with the first production to take place this November.

The ministry will ensure close monitoring of the project in Perak, including in situ leaching, assessment of surface and underground waters as well as soil and plantations, mineral extraction costs, economic spillover effects and the health of communities in the surrounding areas.

On May 23, Saarani confirmed the discovery of lanthanide in the Hulu Perak area, which was found during tin ore extraction work.

The menteri besar said lanthanide was a more valuable resource than tin as the rare earth element could be used for products such as smartphones, watches and electronics.

However, some quarters had objected to the mining effort over concerns about possible adverse effects on the environment.

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