First bauxite shipment worth $US992,000

Fiji’s first bauxite shipment worth $US992,000 is expected to be sent to China in June.

Director of Mineral Resources Malakai Finau told FijiLive it takes about two months for this value of bauxite to be shipped to China.

“This is for the return trip and includes loading time of the bauxite from the on-shore stockpile site at Naviqiri to the barge and onto the mother ship,” he said.

Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited is the first company to mine bauxite in Fiji and has legal control to mine over 165 acres of land in Bua.

He said the bauxite mine has generated 50-60 jobs at the mine for both skilled and unskilled workers.

The mine had also engaged sub-contractors in their infrastructural development which includes road, stockpile area and jetty construction.

He said the production will boost the contribution of the mineral sector to national GDP and generate economic spinoffs.

By Farzana Nisha