GEORGE TOWN – Kedah’s plan to mine rare earth minerals will damage water catchment areas in three ways, said the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and PBA Holdings Bhd.
PBAPP and PBA Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa said in a statement yesterday that rare earth mining would cause environmental destruction at the water catchment area, creating land and water pollution and causing raw water contamination.
He said that the Ulu Muda water catchment area, which serves 4.2 million people in Perlis, Kedah, and Penang, would be in danger if the mining activities were to begin.
“Even China, the leading rare earth element (REE) producer in the world, does not mine for REE in water catchment areas.
“Mining RM60 billion worth of REE will inevitably involve large-scale land clearing and tree-cutting to set up mining operations in a pristine rainforest environment.
“Land and water pollution is unavoidable as mining operations to extract and process REE will cause pollution and generate waste that will seep into the soil and nearby groundwater,” said Jaseni.
He said the raw water contamination would be serious, as mining and extracting REE involves toxic chemicals and metallurgical treatments to separate the minerals from excavated soil, including acid baths and leaching ponds.
He also said that rainfall may cause toxins and chemicals to be washed into Sg Muda and its tributaries, and that the effects of REE mining in Ulu Muda would be more devastating than logging.
“Media reports had stated that the environment and water minister had suggested for Penang to compensate Kedah for its ‘big sacrifice’ to not conduct REE mining in water catchment areas in Kedah.
“This is tantamount to asking Penang to pay Kedah for publicising an irrational proposal and there is no ‘big sacrifice’ because REE mining in a water catchment area is not justifiable.
“The most pertinent point to bear in mind is that the 163,000ha Greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex is much more than a rainforest habitat.
“It is the primary water catchment area for the three states. 96% of Kedah’s raw water and 70% of Perlis raw water originates from Ulu Muda,” Jaseni said.
He said more than 80% of the raw water that PBAPP abstracts from Sg Muda at the Lahar Tiang Intake in Penang comes from Ulu Muda.
“Please remember that water supply has a direct bearing on the people’s well-being and health.” – The Vibes, December 17, 2020
