SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government has approved two sites with an area totalling about 400ha to mine non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE).
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun announced that the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the mining project have been finalised after several revisions.
"We've received the green light for NR-REE mining. The locations will be announced later. A local company has been granted exploration rights.
"The timeline will depend on regulations, SOPs and coordination with the Land and Mines Office. We can't estimate the value yet as exploration must first take place to determine it," he said at a press conference after the state executive council meeting on Wednesday (Nov 6).
He also noted that two previous NR-REE mining projects in Kuala Pilah and Jelebu were halted due to SOP violations, with the companies involved being fined.
Last year, Aminuddin said that the state government had approved the SOP for NR-REE mining, which excludes protected forests and required all related developments to involve a partnership with the state-owned Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Negri Sembilan.
Meanwhile, Aminuddin, who is also the Port Dickson MP, said that the construction of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) from Banting, Selangor to Gelang Patah, Johor will have a significant economic impact on Negri.
He explained that the WCE would stimulate development along the route, including Port Dickson, by improving access and easing congestion on the North-South Expressway (PLUS).
"This is crucial for alleviating traffic on the existing highway, as we frequently experience congestion from Friday to Sunday.
"The WCE will benefit not only Port Dickson residents but also those from Melaka and Johor heading to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
"Additionally, it will benefit Port Dickson's tourism sector, as the area will expand, making it easier for local and international visitors to enjoy our beaches," he said.
During the tabling of the Budget 2025 on Oct 18, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Banting-Gelang Patah WCE project would be prioritised in 2025.
Aminuddin also welcomed several initiatives in the budget aimed at benefiting Negri, including plans to increase rice production, upgrade the Bahau-Keratong road, develop the Kuala Sawah Regional Sewerage Treatment Plant, and build a preschool in Palong, Jempol. – Bernama
