SARAWAK will formulate a new mining policy to search for rare precious minerals in the state such as nickel, lithium and uranium, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The new policy will be in place by next year, he said at an state environment event in Kuching.
"We need a new policy to oversee the use of new technology in our plans to expand our mining industry.
"The policy will make sure our mining projects are sustainable.
"We will not use open cast mining methods and the new methods we use will be like those used in Canada which are less intrusive on the ecosystem," he said.
Johari said deputy premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan had visited Canada to study their mining methods which will be adopted by Sarawak.
On July 3, last year, the Sarawak government announced that it will carry out a complete geological mapping to search for more precious minerals - after having discovered an estimated RM 1.25 trillion worth of gold, rare earth and other precious metals in 32 percent of land that had been mapped.
Awang Tengah announced the decision, saying that he had informed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof about the latest state decision. – April 26, 2025
