KUANTAN: Pahang has rare earth elements (REE) estimated at some 1.4 million tonnes across the state, with a potential estimated value of RM80 billion.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail told the state assembly that records provided by the Mineral and Geoscience Department (JMG) found the REE deposits were mostly found in Lipis, Raub and Bentong.

"Records provided by the JMG revealed Pahang has some 1.4 million tonnes of REE and when we convert (into cash value) it is estimated around RM80 billion. REE are known to be precious like gold....it is is found in Lipis, Raub and some areas in Bentong," he said when replying to a supplementary question by Andansura Rabu (Pas-Beserah) on the locations of the REE reserve in Pahang.

Earlier, when replying to a question by Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Cheka) on the state government's readiness to explore rare earth as a source of income, Wan Rosdy said he led a delegation from Pahang in September last year to visit the non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE) pilot project site in Kenering, Hulu Perak.

He said the visit was aimed to see and learn NR-REE mining techniques that are carried out without affecting the environment.

"Following the visit, the Pahang government has identified Sungai Wang in Hulu Jelai, Lipis to be developed as the pilot NR-REE mining project site covering an area measuring 220ha and the state executive council meeting gave its approval last month.

"The State Land and Mines office and Pahang Mining Corporation were in the midst of formulating the final draft of the standard operating procedure for NR-REE mining before it is brought to the attention of the state authorities.

"The state government welcomes any investors in the mining sector to carry out NR-REE exploration in Pahang and is prepared to cooperate to set up a NR-REE processing plant in Malaysia, especially in Pahang," he said.

To a supplementary question by Tuan Ibrahim that will Pahang also seek permission from the federal government to export raw rare earth elements as currently Perak is the only state in the country allowed to do so after the Federal government imposed an export moratorium effectivefrom Jan 1 this year, Wan Rosdy replied that he has already spoken to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"I had raised the matter during a meeting with the prime minister (Anwar). Pahang is taking the necessary action to extract and export the rare earth materials," he said.

On a supplementary question by Khairulnizam Mohamad Zuldin(BN-Kemayan) if the mining techniques adopted in Perak had any impact on the environment, Wan Rosdy replied that based on his observation, it was at a minimum.

"Perak adopts the in situ leaching technique with little impact towards the environment and that is different compared to the traditional method. It is being monitored around the clock to avoid any soil erosion and other threats," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1048705/pahang-has-rare-earth-resources-worth-some-rm80-billion