Fiji earns revenue of $2.8 million from first shipment of bauxite in 2017

The Republic of Fiji, home to the Vanua Levu mine, which is one of the largest bauxite mines in Oceana, has earned revenue of $2.8 million from the first shipment of bauxite in 2017, totalling $52.2m revenue since mining started at Nawailevu in Bua in 2010.

In March, William and Goslings Operations & Logistics Manager Madhulesh Lakhan confirmed that its vessel, the MV Ocean Merry, at the port of Galoa in the province of Bua, loaded the first shipment of bauxite ore for 2017.

Dr Taga said the bauxite shipped to China weighed 58,709.60 tonnes which raked in revenues of $1,350,320.80 in US dollars.

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Recently, Fiji’s Director Mineral Development Dr Raijeli Taga said that the bauxite export has been affected from the shores of Bua due to volatile nature of the mining business. “Further exports will be purely a business decision of the tenement holder which will depend on the market price in terms of profitability and sustainability of their operations.”

"If the export price is not feasible then the tenement holder would continue with the mining activity and export when the price is right," she said.

XINFA Aurum Exploration Fiji Ltd will keep the mining operations running in order to stockpile for later export.