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The Kelantan state government is exploring the potential of rare earth elements (REE) identified in an area covering approximately 1,400 hectares near Ladang Subong, Gua Musang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah stated that the project is still at the exploration and sampling stage. The objective is to determine the actual potential of the REE deposits before any commercial mining activities are carried out. This effort is being implemented in collaboration with the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

The state government is in the process of granting approvals to government-linked companies (GLCs) and state agencies interested in participating in this initiative. Hilmi Abdullah mentioned this to reporters after officiating the opening of the Kelstone Cosmos Laboratory at the Bandar Baru Tunjong Business Centre.

<P> ;The collaboration is being executed through a Government-to-Government (G2G) approach and involves land owned by the Perbadanan Kemajuan Iktisad Negeri Kelantan (PKINK), which has been identified as having high potential for REE industry development. The state government has issued a Proprietary Mining Licence for exploration purposes. However, any mining activities are subject to the approval of the Operational Mining Scheme, monitoring by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia, and an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Hilmi emphasized the importance of ensuring that the development of the REE industry in Kelantan progresses to the downstream stage while being implemented in a controlled manner that complies with environmental standards.

In another development, Hilmi noted that illegal mining activities in the state are not serious and remain under control, affecting only certain districts. A special task force is in place to monitor these activities, and sever al machines involved in unlicensed operations have been seized.

There was a recent incident at about 6.30 pm last Wednesday, where two men died after being buried in a landslide. The incident is believed to have occurred while they were illegally mining gold in an oil palm plantation area in Kampung Jerimbong, Kuala Balah, Jeli.

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