EIA to be done for Namosi copper mine

The Namosi Joint Venture said it is pleased that the government has initiated community consultation to help develop the Terms of Reference for its Waisoi Project’s Environmental Impact Assessment.

The Namosi Joint Venture or NJV has been exploring copper and other minerals in the Namosi region since 2008 and is currently focusing on a potential copper deposit near the Waisoi area in the Namosi province.

The government confirmed that under the Environment Act 2005, the Waisoi Project requires environmental and social studies to be done to assess the potential impacts of a mine in the area.

The studies will be conducted by Golder and Associates, a leading consultancy firm, and the Institute of Applied Science from the University of the South Pacific.

NJV said community consultation is a critical component of the studies and also provides an opportunity to discuss the project in more detail.

The government will decide if a mine can be built in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner after the studies are done.


Story by: Vijay Narayan