MARAN, March 11 – The Pahang government will study the need for a rare earth oxide processing plant in the state, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said.
Acknowledging the positive prospects, he confirmed that Pahang is among the ten states with Ion-Adsorption Clay Rare Earth Elements (IAC-REE), but said that a comprehensive study was still necessary.
“We will study this matter (the plant). Regarding rare earth, we confirm its presence, but the quantity cannot be confirmed, and this matter must be studied and researched as it involves forest reserve areas and so on,” he said.
He was speaking to newsmen after the groundbreaking ceremony of Felda’s People Land Scheme (STR) in Jengka 14 here.
Wan Rosdy was responding to news reports about Malaysia’s urgent need to build a rare earth oxide processing plant, seen as a critical priority for the country based on the high global demand for the mineral.
Currently, Malaysia does not have a rare earth processing plant of its own. Lynas Corporation Ltd. (Lynas) is an Australian company that operates the world’s largest and most modern rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.
