Mining Dilemma

The Amex lease at Lautoka

 Mining, and especially opencast and submarine mining, always raises issues that only specialists can answer. A new mine will create jobs, royalties for landowners, income for shareholders, tax revenue for government, and put more money in the local economy.  But the main benefactors are usually the mining companies that send much of their profits offshore, and the mine may also create costly environmental hazards that far exceed its benefits.

This is the dilemma that Fiji now faces as it seeks economic growth in a depressed global economy. To flourish, it cannot continue to rely on tourism, a recuperating sugar industry, and smaller contributions from remittances, garment manufacturing, timber and Vatukoula gold. The new focus on mining, if successful, will greatly assist Fiji's economic recovery.


Namosi Copper and Gold
The Tui Namosi has called the proposed copper and gold mine in Namosi "a blessing" but environmental groups and some landowners are far from convinced. The Country Manager of Namosi Joint Venture, Greg Morris, assured the  Namosi Provincial Council yesterday that no cyanide or mercury will be used to produce copper concentrate from the ore. The project still requires landowner and government permission to go ahead, and the company is currently completing  project studies and an Environmental Impact Assessment report for landowner and government approval.

Meanwhile, villagers have already benefited by a $520,000 grant for students from Namosi and tikina Waidina students wishing to pursue tertiary education, from community and infrastructure development programmes paid for by the Joint Venture, and $200,000 have been paid to landowners this year during the exploration programme.  Two thousand jobs will be generated if the construction of the mine goes ahead.

Bua Bauxite Mine
The newly opened bauxite mine in Bua province, Vanua Levu, worked by Xinfa Aurum currently employs 150 permanent and and 250 seasonal workers. Landowners have so far received close to $20,000 a year for leases and $250,000 for compensation. Mine Manager Vanuaca Basilio says about $2,000,000 in revenue is generated into the economy every month.

Ba River Ironsands
Yet another project is the dredging of ironsands from the Ba River that are to be shipped to Lautoka for export. Australian miner Amex Resources employs 300 people and is estimated to remain profitable for up to 21 years. Dredging will help minimise flood damage but the flip side is that it could also adversely affect fishing and the mangrove ecosystem.

Anti-government blogger Navosavakadua in FijiToday says the company's 91% internal rate of return is "unconscionable" when 30% is the usual rates hoped for by companies investing in developing countries. He says "the illegal regime was practically giving away the nation’s resources." I have no way of accessing his claim.


Gold at Wainivesi and Mt Kasi
Two further developments are the small gold mine at Wainivesi near Suva and the reopening of the Mt Kasi gold mine in Vanua Levu.

Whether any or all of these ventures turn out to be "blessings" is too early to call.