PERAK SEEKS RM20 MILLION TO CONDUCT EXPLORATION FOR NEW MINERALS - MB

IPOH, April 17 (Bernama) -- The Perak government has applied for RM20 million from the federal government to explore for new mineral resources, including non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) in the state.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the allocation would enable the Minerals and Geosciences Department (JMG) to conduct research towards finding a new source of revenue for the state.

He said this in response to a supplementary question from Tiw Tee Siang (PH-Tronoh) on whether the state government would conduct a study to explore new minerals and map the areas during the question and answer session at the State Assembly sitting, here today.

Earlier, to Tiw's original question, Saarani said six plots of privately owned land had been approved for NR-REE mining based on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report.

Saarani said the plots of land are in Mukim Kenering, Hulu Perak District, with only one plot currently operating as a Pilot Project for NR-REE mining.

"Based on the initial study carried out by Malaysia Perak, there are four districts with potential to have NR-REE mineral resources, namely Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Larut Matang and Kinta, with a total reserve of approximately 1.7 million metric tons.

"However, 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the areas with the potential to have NR REE reserves are located within Forest Reserve areas," he said

--BERNAMA