Fiji confirms first shipment of 70,000 tons of bauxite for 2017

Fiji has announced that its vessel, the MV Ocean Merry, at the port of Galoa in the province of Bua, located on the western coast of the northern island of Vanua Levu, loaded the first shipment of 70,000 tons of bauxite ore for 2017.

William and Goslings Operations & Logistics Manager Madhulesh Lakhan confirmed, “The MV Ocean Merry will be in Galoa for 12 days loading approximately 70,000 metric tons of bauxite.” 

As per sources, the vessel loaded with bauxite ore is returning to the Middle Kingdom. MV Ocean Merry’s last port was the People’s Republic of China.  However, the name of the purchasers is not mentioned in the report.  

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This first sale occurs significantly earlier in the year than Fiji’s first shipment of 2016, which did not take place until early September. Fiji’s bauxite quality and unfavourable market condition was an issue that made dealing more difficult.

The Republic of Fiji is home to the Vanua Levu mine, which is one of the largest bauxite mines in Oceana, with reserves estimated at one billion metric tons. The country has been a difficult location to conduct mining operations due to a military coup in 2006, a constitutional crisis in 2009, and an ongoing military dictatorship.