AU Capital Mining may face local dispute over bauxite mining licence in Solomon Islands

<p>Temotu province of Solomon Islands is facing growing community unrest over bauxite mining licence and operations.</p> <p><img style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="http://www.alcircle.com/uploads/images/solomon%20bauxite.jpg" alt="News" width="517" height="226" /></p> <p>The Australian mining company, AU Capital Mining, co-owned by Pacific Bauxite, recently &nbsp;won a license to explore bauxite mining at Nende in Temotu. According to media reports, bauxite interests are linked with recent political turmoil in the province.</p> <p>Temotu's former provincial premier, Nelson Omar claims that his recent removal from post was because he rejected licenses for mining and logging interests.&nbsp; He had rejected Pacific Bauxite for a business license.</p> <p>"The consent from the resource owners, the land owners, how it was conducted was not done in accordance with existing legislations which govern the mining and logging acts."</p> <p>Pacific Bauxite has insisted it has consulted with locals regarding bauxite mining.</p> <p>&nbsp;"The Company is extensively engaged with the local community and is ensuring that all stakeholders are made fully aware of current and future activities regarding the Project.&rdquo;</p> <p>They said their meetings with the locals have been positive and the recent phase of exploration has been welcomed with great enthusiasm. &nbsp;However the company was still without a business license in late March when the new premier, David Maina was elected.</p> <p>Mr Omar says he was removed in order to approve a business license for Pacific Bauxite and the license was granted in an urgent executive meeting. He says there is no official approval from the local people on bauxite mining.</p> <p>{googleAdsense}</p> <p>The Director of Mines, Thomas Toba, however says that Mines officials considered numerous objections to mining before granting the company a prospecting license. Mr Toba also adds that officials from his department plans to go to remote Temotu to listen to the local community.</p> <p>Pacific Bauxite would reportedly sign of the documents late this month before the commencement of prospecting.</p>