Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad refuted claims that the federal government is delaying the release of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for rare earth element (REE) mining. He stated the SOP was distributed to state governments in December 2023, providing guidelines on technical processes, environmental compliance, and export controls. Nik Nazmi clarified that any delays at the state level are not the federal government's responsibility and reiterated that REE mining is prohibited in protected areas. He emphasized that exploration activities fall under state jurisdiction and the federal government is committed to sustainable mineral sector development.
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