The government will be drafting a policy, at the federal level, to tackle issues pertaining to illegal mining of rare earth elements (REE).
National Resources, Energy and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the policy would encompass standard operating procedures from upstream to downstream to handle the matter.
“Our concern is that we don’t want REE to be exported in its raw form without an added value.
“We know REE is in high demand, especially now in the transition of energy and all,” he said during a press conference at his ministry in Putrajaya today.
Nik Nazmi said this when asked to comment on the latest incident of REE theft in Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik, Kedah, after the police arrested nine individuals on June 21.
Sustainable manner
He added that Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof has tasked the National Resources, Energy and Climate Change Ministry with coordinating the matter as soon as possible to ensure that REE is mined in a sustainable manner.
“We need to balance the need between natural resources and the environment,” he said.
In another development, he said he will be organising a meeting with the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) soon to follow through on its proposals and findings on an incident involving a faulty barrage at Sungai Muda.
“I’ve already received a briefing from SPAN and met with its team. Their report was very thorough with interesting proposals.
“Water supplies and security are very critical and we need to address it in a more holistic manner,” he added.
On Monday, SPAN chairperson Charles Santiago was reported as saying that the faulty barrage gate opening, which caused water to flow out of Sungai Muda uncontrollably, occurred outside of working hours.
Charles said the staff in charge of the barrage operations at the river only work from 8.30am to 4.30pm with off-days on Fridays and Saturdays during the dry season.
He said that round-the-clock surveillance was only done during the rainy or flood seasons.
The incident occurred at 10pm on May 13.
The unscheduled water disruption that hit many areas in Penang and Kedah had affected some 678,983 consumers there. Mkini
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