2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster

Ecological disaster in Malaysia September 2019 September 2019 2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster Malaysia Malaysia 3.390 103.200 Mining symbol.svg 20 yes 250 centre yes 2015 Kuantan District, Pahang, Malaysia 3.840766 103.243387 region:XXXX_type:event inline Unscrupulous mining activities without regulated mining methods 34 contractors licence revoked, moratorium and ban on bauxite mining in the area until 2019 The 2015–16 Kuantan bauxite disaster is an ecological disaster which occurred from 2015 to 2016 onwards in Kuantan District of Pahang in Malaysia. The unscrupulous bauxite mining was blamed for causing soil pollution particularly along the lane of Kuantan highway where the lorries carrying bauxite which also spread to waters around the district, causing the environment to turn red as a result from unregulated mining activities that posed health hazards to both mine workers and the district surrounding communities lived along the mine routes.http://journal.usm.my/journal/01mjms233_ED1.pdf Potential Health Impacts of Bauxite Mining in Kuantan Noor Hisham Abdullah Norlen Mohamed Lokman Hakim Sulaiman Thahirahtul Asma Zakaria Daud Abdul Rahim Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia 2016 2 September 2019 23 3 1–8 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902105638/http://journal.usm.my/journal/01mjms233_ED1.pdf 2 September 2019 livehttps://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/pahang-residents-plagued-by-bauxite-dust-caused-by-indiscriminate-mining Pahang residents plagued by bauxite dust caused by indiscriminate mining Eunice Au The Straits Times 16 February 2016 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902073936/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/pahang-residents-plagued-by-bauxite-dust-caused-by-indiscriminate-mining 2 September 2019 livehttps://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/02/17/bauxite-mining-polluting-pahangs-drinking-water-scientist-warns/1061993 Bauxite mining polluting Pahang's drinking water, scientist warns Jonathan Edward The Malay Mail 17 February 2016 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902105013/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/02/17/bauxite-mining-polluting-pahangs-drinking-water-scientist-warns/1061993 2 September 2019 livehttp://iiumedic.net/imjm/v1/download/volume_16_no_2/IMJM-Vol16-No2-137150.pdf Environmental and Occupational Health Impact of Bauxite Mining in Malaysia: A Review Lee Ky Ho Ly Tan Kh Tham Yy Ling Sp Qureshi Am Ponnudurai Ta Nordin R Community Medicine 2017 2 September 2019 16 2 137–150 [14/14] https://web.archive.org/web/20190902110819/http://iiumedic.net/imjm/v1/download/volume_16_no_2/IMJM-Vol16-No2-137150.pdf 2 September 2019 live Background The existence of bauxite minerals in Kuantan District have been recognised by the Geological Survey in 1937 with the area is underlain by basalt and associated dolerite dykes, which cut the underlying rocks.https://gsm.org.my/products/702001-101257-PDF.pdf Bauxite in the Kuantan area, Peninsular Malaysia S. Senathi Rajah Geological Survey of Malaysia Geological Society of Malaysia 1986 2 September 2019 315 [1/11] https://web.archive.org/web/20190902061524/https://gsm.org.my/products/702001-101257-PDF.pdf 2 September 2019 live Beginning from 2013, the government began to start small-scale bauxite mining in the area of Balok before being expanded into Goh Hill, Sagu Hill and Karang River.https://issuu.com/asmpub/docs/sustainable_mining_bauxite Sustainable Mining: Case Study for Bauxite Mining in Pahang issuu 19 December 2017 2 September 2019 With neighbouring Indonesia moved out from their long-time bauxite mining industry to be replaced by domestic metal processing industry with an immediate ban being enforced on the mineral mining in early 2014, this subsequently causing the shortage of worldwide supply particularly to China.https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2015/06/26/indonesias-export-ban-leaves-malaysia-on-top/922315 Indonesia's export ban leaves Malaysia on top Bloomberg The Malay Mail 26 June 2015 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902104447/https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2015/06/26/indonesias-export-ban-leaves-malaysia-on-top/922315 2 September 2019 live The Malaysian state of Pahang which has deposits on the minerals taking the opportunity to fill in the demands with the involvement of many unscrupulous parties with unregulated mining methods. Following Malaysia's participation in the markets, their annual output of bauxite subsequently increased from over 200,000 tonnes in 2013 to nearly 20 million tonnes in 2015, becoming the world's top producer which accounting for nearly half of the supply to China's massive aluminium industry.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35340528 Bauxite in Malaysia: The environmental cost of mining BBC News 19 January 2016 2 September 2019 Authorities response towards the pollution Unscrupulous mining contractors licence revokement and subsequent moratorium In July 2015, the Pahang state government revoked the licences of 34 contractors to curb rampant bauxite mining in the area due to increasing concerns over pollution caused by the activity with only 11 operators would be allowed to operate.https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-state-revokes-bauxite-mining-licences-over-pollution-concerns Malaysian state revokes bauxite mining licences over pollution concerns The Straits Times 13 July 2015 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902112710/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-state-revokes-bauxite-mining-licences-over-pollution-concerns 2 September 2019 live With the growing impacts to environment, the Cabinet of Malaysia decided to suspend the activities until regulations, licensing and environmental protection can be put in place.https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/1897695/pollution-fears-malaysia-may-suspend-bauxite-mining Pollution fears: Malaysia may suspend bauxite mining, threatening supplies to China Reuters South China Morning Post 2 January 2016 4 September 2019 In 2017, the Malaysian government through their Environment Ministry are in the position to extend its moratorium on the mining for another three months or more as there is still runoff from bauxite stockpiles near a port that contaminating the country coastal waters.https://www.reuters.com/article/malaysia-bauxite-idUSL3N1GK3EI Malaysia likely to extend bauxite mining ban for three months or more Emily Chow Tom Hogue Reuters 7 March 2017 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902113327/https://www.reuters.com/article/malaysia-bauxite-idUSL3N1GK3EI 2 September 2019 live An estimate of RM10 million tonnes of bauxite stockpile had been seized earlier by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at Goh Hill and Kuantan Port with a probe will be facilitated for the unlawful bauxite-mining since the activities were also involving a senior state Customs enforcement officer, 10 state Land and Mines Office (PTG) enforcement officers and a PTG general assistant who has been arrested.https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/08/267411/seized-bauxite-stockpile-rm128-billion-most-found-felda-bukit-goh-and Seized bauxite stockpile at RM1.28 billion, most found at Felda Bukit Goh and Kuantan Port Hidir Reduan New Straits Times 13 August 2017 3 September 2019 Further in 2019, the Land and Natural Resources Ministry stated that the mining activities can only resume if every parties involved are prepared to carry out and enforce the standard operating procedure (SOP) for mining and exporting bauxite in Pahang.https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/03/13/no-bauxite-mining-in-kuantan-without-sop-says-natural-resource-minister/1732232 No bauxite mining in Kuantan without SOP, says natural resource minister Emmanuel Santa Maria Chin The Malay Mail 13 March 2019 3 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190903034227/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/03/13/no-bauxite-mining-in-kuantan-without-sop-says-natural-resource-minister/1732232 3 September 2019 live Cleanup The clean up operation to the areas affected by mining activities has been started on 14 January 2016 with the involvement of more than 100 personnel including from the Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK), fire department, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/01/14/kuantan-begins-operation-to-clean-up-areas-affected-by-bauxite-mining/1040757 Kuantan begins operation to clean up areas affected by bauxite mining Bernama The Malay Mail 14 January 2016 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902114747/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2016/01/14/kuantan-begins-operation-to-clean-up-areas-affected-by-bauxite-mining/1040757 2 September 2019 live Further in December, the Kuantan Port Consortium (KPC) has invested an amount of RM30 million to clean the bauxite waste at Kuantan harbour area.https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/2104545-ITARCH416827 Bauxite mining moratorium until March 31, 2017: Wan Junaidi Bernama The Sun 23 December 2016 2 September 2019 2 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190902065113/https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/2104545-ITARCH416827 dead See also Mining in Malaysia 1982 Bukit Merah radioactive pollution 2019 Kim Kim River toxic pollution Asia Environment Geology Malaysia References 2 Category:2015 in Malaysia Category:2016 in Malaysia Category:2015 disasters in Malaysia Category:2016 disasters in Malaysia Category:Kuantan District Category:Man-made disasters in Malaysia Category:Bauxite mining Category:Mining in Malaysia