05/10/2023
Dato’ P.Geol. Sia Hok Kiang FASc.
Dato’ P.Geol. Sia Hok Kiang, is a Professional Geologist registered with the Board of Geologists Malaysia. He is a practising economic geologist but better recognized as an active entrepreneur in the mineral resource industry.
After graduating from the University of Malaya in 1981 in Applied Geology, Dato’ Sia started his colourful career in the mineral industry with Osbourne & Chappel International Ltd, working at the Gopeng tin mine in Perak, Malaysia where he was exposed to various sectors of the tin mining industry, including the exploration for tin, large scale alluvial tin mining and mineral processing of tin concentrates. From 1984-1987, Dato’ Sia was involved with the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) in mine evaluation of IFC’s projects in Africa, North and South America focusing on diamond, tin, gold, copper and the other base metals. In 1989, Dato’ Sia became owner-operator of the Sungei Lembing underground tin mine in Pahang, Malaysia. He was there for some 15 years spending time and effort in a courageous attempt to keep the still tin-rich mine going through a period of prolonged depressed tin prices, finally giving up the lease when it expired in 2004. In 2008, Dato’ Sia acquired the Mengapur Copper Deposit and successfully developed it into a copper-iron ore producer. In 2012, he procured the Mt Cuthbert Copper Mine at Mt Isa, Queensland, Australia. With the total mining tenements covering about 1,627 sq km, the Mt. Cuthbert Mine property has within it some 30 historical copper mines that were shut down in the 1920s. The mine is currently producing 7,000 tonnes of copper cathode plates a year. Of late, Dato’ Sia is pre-occupied with helping the Government to develop the rare earth industry in Malaysia, particularly the setting up of mid-stream processing facilities to produce separated rare earth oxides.
Dato’ Sia is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, Council Member of the Malaysian Chamber of Mines and Honorary Member of the Geological Society of Malaysia. He is passionate on promoting the development of mineral resources in Malaysia, including the revival of the tin mining industry.