The Perak State Government is planning to collaborate with China to explore new technologies in industrial mineral, especially involving a rare earth element, lanthanides.
The state government had informed in a statement today (Oct 20) that Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, who led the state delegation in a working visit to Nanning, China had arrived yesterday to visit China Rare Earth Group Co Ltd’s (CREG) rare earth element extraction plant.
According to the statement, the visit to the “Green City” is not only seen as an effort to strengthen the Malaysia-China bilateral relationship, it is also to accept CREG’s invitation that was sent to the state government last September.
Besides exploring the investment potential, the working visit aimed to observe the the latest technology for industrial mineral that can benefit Perak as potential hub for industrial mineral development in Malaysia.
“The visit is also to highlight Menteri Besar Corporation (MB Inc) as a driving force of the mineral industry in Perak and to strengthen strategic relationship with regards to safe and responsible rare earth minerals extraction,” it said in the statement.
The state government informed about the step to allow continuous effort to find a better strategy in industrial mineral development after the In-Situ Leaching (ISL) technique has been successfully proven as the safest, environmentally-friendly and sustainable way to mine lanthanides.
“The working visit had a huge significance as Perak has successfully carried out a pilot project in mining lanthanides in Kenering, Hulu Perak that has bring in a total of RM16 million in royalty payment for state as of July this year,” it said.
During the working visit, the Perak delegation was given information related to the conservation of the site after the extraction of lanthanides by the Managing Director of CREG (Guangxi) Rare Earth Co Ltd, Zhang Xinguang in addition to being taken to visit the company rare earth element processing plant.
During the working visit, the Perak delegation was given a briefing related to the conservation of the site after the extraction of rare earth elements by the CREG (Guangxi) Rare Earth Co Ltd managing director Zhang Xinguang besides touring the plant.
Also present were Perak State secretary Datuk Ahmad Suaidi Abdul Rahim, Perak tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman Loh Sze Yee, representatives of state government companies (GLCs) including MB Inc and Corporations Perak State Agricultural Development as well as representatives of state technical agencies.