Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said nearly four million tonnes of bauxite stockpiles still remained.

The mining activities were suspended when a moratorium was announced on Jan 15.

“We have taken a stand that the stockpile of bauxite must be removed or exported. After that we will clean up and implement all the guidelines proposed by the various ministries,” he told reporters at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Wan Junaidi said there were about 28,905 tonnes of bauxite stockpiles in Kuantan Port, 1,318,463.43 tonnes outside the port area and also 2,309,270 tonnes stored in various mining areas.

He said the state government needed to select a central stockpile area that would adhere to guidelines from the ministry, including drainage systems and dedicated roads to transport the stockpile to the port.

Vehicles used to transport the bauxite must be approved by the Public Land Transport Commission (SPAD) and the route itself must steer clear of residential areas, measures which will be monitored by the Department of Environment.

“The ministry will facilitate the removal of the bauxite by giving specific APs to transport the stockpile to either Kemaman port or Kuantan port,” he said.

Wan Junaidi said the moratorium might be extended if the stockpile could not be cleared by the end of the three-month period ending June 15.

Bauxite mining in Kuantan is now under a three-month moratorium until April 15 after widespread pollution in the state and in neighbouring Terengganu.

Putrajaya has proposed several measures to allow bauxite mining while minimising pollution, including the construction of a new road to avoid transportation of bauxite-rich soil through residential areas.