Bauxite mining in Bua brings in $20M

$US20 million has come into the country through the bauxite mining operation in Bua.

Aurum Explorations Fiji Limited’s mine manager Vanuaca Basilio said this is in terms of taxes and wages paid to government and wages paid to the employees.

He said $2.5 million has also been paid to the landowners.

The bauxite mine currently has close to 150 permanent employees and 250 seasonal workers from around Fiji.

The first shipment of 60,000 tonnes of bauxite was sent to China yesterday.