Silica potential for Terengganu

The Mineral and Geoscience Department Malaysia will propose to the Terengganu Government that a “Silica Route” be set up to boost production of the mineral resource.

Depart­­ment director-general Da­­tuk Yunus Abdul Razak said the state had development potential because it was rich in non-metallic mineral silica.

“We want to create a stretch in the state where silica is processed, refined and melted down for locally-made products,” he said at a press conference yesterday during Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Senator Datuk Maznah Mazlan’s visit to the department.

Yunus said the department would initially produce silica pellets and later on, train local people to take over the process.

“The department is also looking into producing crystalised silica for export,” he said, adding that the country exported silica in the form of wafers.

Currently, Sarawak produces 90% of silica sand in the country and exports it to Taiwan, Japan and China, while peninsula Malaysia produces the rest for export to Singapore.

Maznah said that domestic mineral production contributed 2% to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007.

“Mineral production output was valued at RM2.5bil in 2007. Coal contributed RM118mil, metallic minerals RM465mil and industrial minerals RM1.95bil,” she said.

She said the department was preparing a reserve plan for minerals to ensure the local industry was sustainable.

“The department will identify the minerals available in the states and inform them on the development potential.

“In its reports, the department will state what minerals should be mined,” she said, adding that the general mapping of minerals was revised every 10 years.

The department has identified Perak, Pahang and Terengganu as potential areas for tin, Terengganu, Pahang, Kelantan and Perak for iron, Sabah and Pahang for copper, and Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor and Sarawak for gold.

- The Star