Selangor Not Interested In Exploring Rare Earth Elements Mb

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Selangor is sticking to its consistent stand to not venture into rare earth mining as a source of potential revenue, its menteri besar said.
However, there is still a need to come up with a standard operating procedure (SOP) on the matter, Amirudin Shari added.
"There are two issues. What was announced yesterday relates to SOPs if states want to conduct early explorations for rare earth elements (REE).
"But the state government's stand has been consistent since 2016; we have no interest or intention to explore REE," he said at a press conference at the Selangor state secretariat, Shah Alam, today.
"If there are any (unauthorised) attempts, we will certainly take action.
“For now, Selangor has no interest in exploring REE as a potential revenue stream [...]," Amirudin (above) stressed.
National Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik AhmadAmirudin said this when asked for comments on National Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad's statement yesterday that state governments are now permitted to conduct early explorations for REE, following the existing SOP for rare earth and mineral mining.
Nik Nazmi's statement also comes as Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is being investigated by the MACC over a rare earth mining project in the state.
In June, Nik Nazmi told the Dewan Rakyat that the Minerals and Geoscience Department has found 16.1 million tonnes of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) in Malaysia, with a market value of RM809.6 billion.
He said the department has also identified 29 areas with strategic potential for NR-REE in Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu.
Malaysia has almost 16.1 million tonnes of rare earth elements worth about RM810 billion, according to the Department of Minerals and Geociences 2021 annual report.
Selangor has 750,000 tonnes of rare earth deposits, worth RM38 billion, and is among states with smaller rare earth deposits.
Terengganu has the most deposits, amounting to 7.2 million tonnes, worth RM362 billion, followed by Kelantan (2.6 million tonnes, worth RM129 billion) and Perak (1.7 million tonnes, worth RM85 billion). - Mkini

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