Estimated 20 million tons of bauxite is waiting to be mined in Vanua Levu

An estimated 20 million tons of bauxite is waiting to be mined in Vanua Levu.

This has been highlighted in a parliamentary report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources which has also concluded that landowners of Nawailevu in Bua have received the full payment and fair share of royalties for the mining of the bauxite in their area.

These landowners had claimed in a petition presented to parliament that they were not receiving full payments.

The bauxite mining license in Nawailevu, Bua was awarded to Aurum Exploration Fiji Limited.

Chairman of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Joeli Cawaki says a future generation fund of $600,000 has been paid to the landowners.

Cawaki says it is the fair share of royalties formula that is yet to be finalised by the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources.

Bauxite ore is mined from 408 hectares of prospective zones in the Nawailevu area in Bua and part of the Naibulu East area in Macuata.

$1.7 million revenue has been paid to the landowning units in Nawailevu, Bua, and Naibulu.

The two sites have produced more than a million tonnes of bauxite ore since commencement in 2011.

Bauxite ore from the mine is currently being sold at a commodity price of approximately 50 USD per tonne and the price fluctuates from time to time due to the market demand for metal.

Nawailevu mine has ceased operations and the site is undergoing progressive rehabilitation with a reforestation program on the mine site of 160,000 pine seedlings.