AN environmentalist has rejected concerns that the Perak government’s plans to mine for non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) in the Kenderong Forest Reserve will affect a wildlife ‘highway’.

Prof Maketab Mohamed, who was part of the committee which authored the standard operating procedure (SOP) for the lanthanide mining project, told The Malaysian Insight the location of the project site was not an active wildlife habitat.

“Therefore, talk of it being in an active wildlife or Malayan tiger habitat is untrue,” the retired professor in Environmental Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said.

The project received flak from environmental groups such as Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).

Group president Meenakshi Raman had said the 245ha plot proposed for the project was in pristine natural forest.

She said the suggested location was an environmentally sensitive area classified as Rank One, meaning that no development, agriculture, or logging should be authorised, with the exception of low-impact nature tourism, research, and teaching.

Meenakshi also said the proposed location was located within the primary linkage of the central forest spice (CFS) region, which is home to rare and practically extinct wildlife like elephants, tigers, tapirs, and sun bears, according to reports.

She added that the planned location was also a water catchment region, with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) study stating that there were tributary rivers flowing into Sungai Perak, in close proximity to the project site.

However, Maketab, who had visited the area with his team during the process of drawing up the SOP for the project, said the main concern they had was the possible pollution of the surface and ground waters.

“The river that will receive any pollutant from the mine is Sungai Rui – an important fishery for freshwater fish especially ikan loma – a migratory fish species,” he said.

“Leakage could lead to both the surface and groundwater. Ammonium can be converted to ammonia depending on the pH of the water, above pH 9 ammonia (which is toxic to fishes) can be high, therefore it is a major concern as Sungai Rui is an important fishery – as well as Hulu Sungai Perak downstream.

“The main chemical used is ammonium sulfate – as long as it is contained with no leakage, it would be OK.”

Maketab, who is not a fan of rare earth mining himself, said he was concerned that other states would also follow suit considering Gerik is only a ‘test case’ site.

Mining for rare earth minerals generates large volumes of toxic and radioactive material, due to the co-extraction of thorium and uranium, which are radioactive metals.

According to the Harvard International Review, the mining process produces 13kg of dust, 9,600-12,000 cubic metres of waste gas, 75 cubic metres of wastewater, and one tonne of radioactive residue for every tonne of rare earth produced.

It said this was due to the fact that rare earth element ores include metals that contaminate air, water, and soil when mixed with leaching pond chemicals.

The report added that the fact that rare earth ores are frequently contaminated with radioactive thorium and uranium, which has particularly negative health consequences, is particularly concerning.

In total, 2,000 tonnes of toxic waste are produced for every tonne of rare earth elements mined.

Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad revealed last week that the Department of Environment had authorised the EIA for rare earth mining, potentially opening up a new cash stream for the state.

He said the “pilot project” will take place on property owned by the State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC), and that the designated business will be entrusted with determining whether the mining has resulted in hazardous radioactivity.

According to the EIA, in-situ leaching will be used to mine the ore, which will entail the construction of seven hydrometallurgical plants, as well as the installation of injection holes and piping infrastructure.

Menteri Besar Incorporated Perak (MB Inc Perak), Majlis Daerah Gerik, Felcra Bhd, and SADC possess 11 land parcels totalling 2,160ha for the project. – June 4, 2022.