2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster

The 2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster is an ecological disaster which occurred from 2015 to 2016 onwards in Kuantan District of Pahang in Malaysia. The unscrupulous bauxite mining was blamed for causing soil pollution particularly along the lane of Kuantan highway where the lorries carrying bauxite which also spread to waters around the district, causing the environment to turned red as a result from unregulated mining activities that posed health hazards to both mine workers and the district surrounding communities lived along the mine routes.[1][2][3][4]

2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster
2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster (Malaysia)
Date2015 (2015)
LocationKuantan District, Pahang, Malaysia
Coordinates3.840766°N 103.243387°E / 3.840766; 103.243387
CauseUnscrupulous mining activities without regulated mining methods
Outcome34 contractors licence revoked, moratorium and ban on bauxite mining in the area until 2019

Background

The existence of bauxite minerals in Kuantan District have been recognised by the Geological Survey in 1937 with the area is underlain by basalt and associated dolerite dykes, which cut the underlying rocks.[5] Beginning from 2013, the government began to start small-scale bauxite mining in the area of Balok before being expanded into Goh Hill, Sagu Hill and Karang River.[6] With neighbouring Indonesia moved out from their long-time bauxite mining industry to be replaced by domestic metal processing industry with an immediate ban being enforced on the mineral mining in early 2014, this subsequently causing the shortage of worldwide supply particularly to China.[6][7] The Malaysian state of Pahang which has deposits on the minerals taking the opportunity to fill in the demands with the involvement of many unscrupulous parties with unregulated mining methods.[6] Following Malaysia's participation in the markets, their annual output of bauxite subsequently increased from over 200,000 tonnes in 2013 to nearly 20 million tonnes in 2015, becoming the world's top producer which accounting for nearly half of the supply to China's massive aluminium industry.[8]

Authorities response towards the pollution

Unscrupulous mining contractors licence revokement and subsequent moratorium

In July 2015, the Pahang state government revoked the licences of 34 contractors to curb rampant bauxite mining in the area due to increasing concerns over pollution caused by the activity with only 11 operators would be allowed to operate.[9] With the growing impacts to environment, the Cabinet of Malaysia decided to suspend the activities until regulations, licensing and environmental protection can be put in place.[10] In 2017, the Malaysian government through their Environment Ministry are in the position to extend its moratorium on the mining for another three months or more as there is still runoff from bauxite stockpiles near a port that contaminating the country coastal waters.[11] An estimate of RM10 million tonnes of bauxite stockpile had been seized earlier by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at Goh Hill and Kuantan Port with a probe will be facilitated for the unlawful bauxite-mining since the activities were also involving a senior state Customs enforcement officer, 10 state Land and Mines Office (PTG) enforcement officers and a PTG general assistant who has been arrested.[12] Further in 2019, the Land and Natural Resources Ministry stated that the mining activities can only resume if every parties involved are prepared to carry out and enforce the standard operating procedure (SOP) for mining and exporting bauxite in Pahang.[13]

Cleanup

The clean up operation to the areas affected by mining activities has been started on 14 January 2016 with the involvement of more than 100 personnel including from the Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK), fire department, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).[14] Further in December, the Kuantan Port Consortium (KPC) has invested an amount of RM30 million to clean the bauxite waste at Kuantan harbour area.[15]

See also

References
  1. Noor Hisham Abdullah; Norlen Mohamed; Lokman Hakim Sulaiman; Thahirahtul Asma Zakaria; Daud Abdul Rahim (2016). "Potential Health Impacts of Bauxite Mining in Kuantan" (PDF). Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences. 23 (3): 1–8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019 – via Universiti Sains Malaysia.
  2. Eunice Au (16 February 2016). "Pahang residents plagued by bauxite dust caused by indiscriminate mining". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  3. Jonathan Edward (17 February 2016). "Bauxite mining polluting Pahang's drinking water, scientist warns". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  4. Lee Ky; Ho Ly; Tan Kh; Tham Yy; Ling Sp; Qureshi Am; Ponnudurai Ta; Nordin R (2017). "Environmental and Occupational Health Impact of Bauxite Mining in Malaysia: A Review" (PDF). Community Medicine (COMMED). 16 (2): 137–150 [14/14]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  5. S. Senathi Rajah (1986). "Bauxite in the Kuantan area, Peninsular Malaysia" (PDF). Geological Survey of Malaysia: 315 [1/11]. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019 – via Geological Society of Malaysia.
  6. "Sustainable Mining: Case Study for Bauxite Mining in Pahang". issuu. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  7. "Indonesia's export ban leaves Malaysia on top". Bloomberg. The Malay Mail. 26 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  8. "Bauxite in Malaysia: The environmental cost of mining". BBC News. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  9. "Malaysian state revokes bauxite mining licences over pollution concerns". The Straits Times. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  10. "Pollution fears: Malaysia may suspend bauxite mining, threatening supplies to China". South China Morning Post. Reuters. 2 January 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  11. Emily Chow; Tom Hogue (7 March 2017). "Malaysia likely to extend bauxite mining ban for three months or more". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  12. Hidir Reduan (13 August 2017). "Seized bauxite stockpile at RM1.28 billion, most found at Felda Bukit Goh and Kuantan Port". New Straits Times. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  13. Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin (13 March 2019). "No bauxite mining in Kuantan without SOP, says natural resource minister". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  14. "Kuantan begins operation to clean up areas affected by bauxite mining". Bernama. The Malay Mail. 14 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  15. "Bauxite mining moratorium until March 31, 2017: Wan Junaidi". Bernama. The Sun. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
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