Malaysia imposes three-month ban on bauxite mining

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA said that it will ban bauxite mining for three months starting Jan 15 due to concerns over its impact on the environment, in a move that could hurt stockpiles of the aluminium making ingredient in China.

Malaysia's bauxite mining industry has boomed in the past two years to meet demand from top aluminium producer China, but a lack of regulations has led to a public outcry with many complaining of water contamination and environmental damages following a frenetic pace of digging.