Sarawak is looking to expand its mining sector beyond the oil and gas industry with the exploration of its abundant minerals.
A study conducted by the Department of Mineral and Geoscience on over 3.9 million hectares or 32 per cent of the State’s total land mass suggested that there are various mineral resources yet to be capitalised on, according to Deputy Premier YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
These resources, including gold, bauxite, high-quality silica sand, limestone and non-radioactive rare earth elements, are said to be worth more than RM1.25 trillion.
“Sarawak has huge potential; the estimated high value of these mineral resources allows Sarawak to potentially invest in the mining sector, which in turn could generate multiple economic returns.
“That is why the mineral mining industry is a focus of Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), although it is not yet fully developed, and detailed studies are still being conducted,” he said.
The Deputy Premier, who is also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, made these remarks at an event after he led a delegation in a benchmarking visit to Canada in June 2024.
He explained that the visit aimed to gain insights into the country’s sustainable methods of developing the mining sector, in hopes of advancing Sarawak’s own based on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mining is a vital economic sector in the North American nation, contributing not less than 20 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) and subsequently leading to beneficial socio-economic impacts such as the provision of employment opportunities.
The Deputy Premier was particularly impressed with the success of its mining sector at every stage of the value chain – from upstream and midstream to even downstream.
“That’s what we want to learn; among which laws pertaining to the mining sector, and how policies are implemented to develop the sector in Canada,” he said.
He added that the visit also focused on other aspects of the mining sector in the country, namely management and operations, the latest technological practices, and research and development.
A Comprehensive Tour of Canada’s Mining Sector
Throughout the benchmarking visit, the Sarawak delegation seized the opportunity to learn about the diverse nature of Canada’s mining sector.
One of the places that they went was the Macassa Mine – said to be among the world’s largest gold mines with the highest grade – to study “best practices in gold mining”.
Apart from touring the mine’s technologically-driven operations, the delegation were briefed on The Mining Association of Canada’s ‘Towards Sustainable Mining’ standard, an internationally recognised sustainability programme designed to support mining companies in terms of management of environmental and social responsibilities.
They also attended an engagement and sharing session with the Mining Association of British Columbia in Vancouver, acquiring an in-depth understanding that can aid their efforts to formulate Sarawak’s mining policy, strategies and direction, along with the necessary legal and institutional frameworks.
The association had expressed their interest to the delegation of investing and collaborating in the development of the State’s mineral mining industry.
In the same city, the Deputy Premier had articulated the Sarawak Government’s intent on cooperating with the University of British Columbia to offer certified mining-related courses and training programmes to Sarawakians through Sarawak-owned tertiary institutions.
The initiative was made during the delegation’s tour of the university’s Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining, where they learned about responsible mining sector in terms of talent development and institutional framework.
The benchmarking visit was not limited to progressing the mining sector. Through their stops at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, the delegation picked up best practices in the conservation and rehabilitation of former mining sites or quarries.
To better grasp these practices, they toured the Queen Elizabeth Park and the Butchart Gardens, two locations of former quarries that have been redeveloped and rehabilitated into renowned tourist destinations in Canada.
Reference:
Bong, K. (2024, June 18). Deouty Premier: Canadian co confirms presence of gold deposits underground in Bau, Sri Aman. DayakDaily. https://dayakdaily.com/deputy-premier-canadian-co-confirms-presence-of-gold-deposits-underground-in-bau-sri-aman/
Canadian mining association keen to collaborate, invest in Sarawak’s mineral industry. (2024, June 8). DayakDaily. https://dayakdaily.com/canadian-mining-association-keen-to-collaborate-invest-in-sarawaks-mineral-industry/
Churchill, E, (2024, June 10). Awg Tengah: Sarawak seeks best practices in rehabilitating abandoned quarry, mines. The Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/06/10/awg-tengah-sarawak-seeks-best-practices-in-rehabilitating-abandoned-quarry-mines/
Churchill, E. (2024, June 14). S’wak delegation visits Canada’s TRCA to benchmark best conservation practices. The Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/06/14/swak-delegation-visits-canadas-trca-to-benchmark-best-conservation-practices/
Deputy Premier leads Sarawak delegation to Canada to study mining industry. (2024, June 7). DayakDaily. https://dayakdaily.com/deputy-premier-leads-sarawak-delegation-to-canada-to-study-mining-industry/
S’wak govt keen to partner with University of British Columbia to expand mining education in local unis. (2024, June 7). DayakDaily. https://dayakdaily.com/swak-govt-keen-to-partner-with-university-of-british-columbia-to-expand-mining-education-in-local-unis/
Samuel, A. (2024, June 12). Awg Tengah leads delegation on Canada’s Butchart Garden visit for quarries rehabilitation ideas. The Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/06/12/awg-tengah-leads-delegation-on-canadas-butchart-garden-visit-for-quarries-rehabilitation-ideas/
Samuel, A. (2024, June 16). Sarawak delegation explores gold mining best practices in Canada (Video). The Borneo Post. https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/06/16/sarawak-delegation-explores-gold-mining-best-practices-in-canada/
