KUCHING, July 11 — The Sarawak government hopes Putrajaya would be able to finance the estimated RM300 million needed to undertake studies to identify the presence and sources of minerals, including non-radioactive rare earth elements , in the state.
“This undertaking is a part of the efforts meant to transform the mining sector towards having a sustainable and innovative industrial value chain and ecosystem with optimal use of mineral resources by 2030, in line with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030. Awang Tengah, also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, added that the ministry was currently drafting a memorandum of understanding with Nik Nazmi’s ministry on minerals and mining development in Sarawak.
On the export of minerals and rock materials, Awang Tengah said the Sarawak government, together with Nik Nazmi’s ministry and 16 state and federal government agencies, had on July 24, 2018 signed an understanding over the use of related instructions and works procedures.