New permits to expedite release of bauxite stockpile at Kuantan port, says minister

The government is reviewing the granting of approved permits (APs) to ensure that the remaining 2.4 million tonnes of bauxite left at the Kemaman Port can be sent to China before the expiry of the moratorium on April 14. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said yesterday, the month-long period given to the operators to unload the remaining bauxite stored at the Kuantan port had elapsed, as the Chinese New Year holidays had affected progress. "We had given them terms, to unload all the bauxite deposits from the Kuantan Port within a month, we have two more months (for the moratorium)... of the 3.2 million tonnes of bauxite, 2.4 million tonnes are still at the Kuantan port. "During the Chinese New Year holidays, all workers were on leave, ships, as well as the ones from China were also not sailing," he told reporters after visiting the site of a project to prevent coastal erosion in Tok Jembal today.  He said after the expiry of the moratorium on April 14, operators would no longer have an excuse not to move the bauxite stockpile at the Kuantan port, adding that the move to issue new APs was to accelerate the process. Meanwhile, Juanidi said the government had not incurred any cost to clean up the areas affected by bauxite this month, as all costs were borne by the bauxite operators. He said about RM500,000 was spent cleaning up the affected areas, namely the the route from Kuantan to the port, Jalan Bukit Goh, Jalan Bukit Kuantan, Jalan Sungai Lembing, Kuantan Bypass, Gebeng Bypass, Jalan Jerangau Jabor and the Bukit Sagu-Cherul route. On January 13, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak ordered the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government to carry out cleaning works in areas affected by the bauxite mining from January 14 to February 14. – Bernama, February 15, 2016.]]>