Bauxite mining starts in Nawailevu, Bua, from today and huge benefits are expected for the people of the Bua province and the country’s economy as a whole.
As Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama gets ready to open the Aurum Exploration Mine in Bua, deputy secretary for Lands Pene Baleinabuli said the Chinese company has already paid $1 million to the landowners so far.
He said the flow on effects are also huge as many people have set up businesses to benefit from the bauxite mine in Bua.
Baleinabuli said the 20 year mining lease also has set conditions on rehabilitation work on the mining site in Nawailevu.
The government has high hopes that the mining sector will be boosted with the bauxite mining starting in the Northern Division and copper mining commencing in Namosi sometime next year.
Hopes are high that this will result in increased exports and also increased economic opportunities for the landowners and others in the provinces.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Feature
$1M paid to Bua landowners so far for bauxite mine
