Malaysia to Ban Bauxite Mining for 3 Months to Cut Pollution
- Country supplied more than 40% of China's imports last year
- Suspension starts Jan. 15 as government seeks to tighten rules
This article is for subscribers only.
Malaysia, the biggest shipper of bauxite to China, will stop mining ore for three months to cut river and sea pollution, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Jaafar said.
The ban takes effect from Jan. 15 in Pahang, the largest producing state, Wan Junaidi told reporters. Exports will be allowed during the moratorium to reduce port inventories, and after the suspension the government will limit bauxite production to the capacity to ship the material, he said on Wednesday.