The Mineral Resources Department has given the green light to the Vatukoula Gold Mines to start underground operations in some parts of the mine.
Director Mineral Development, Dr. Raijeli Taga says the areas that have been opened for operations have been identified as safe with its procedures in place.
Meanwhile Taga says the full audit will take time as there are many issues to be addressed with the underground mining to ensure that work practices are up to the standard that are safe to work in.
Underground operations at the Vatukoula Gold Mine were shut down last month because of safety reasons.
An audit is being done after ground conditions had resulted in three incidents which include a fatality and two lost time injuries.
