The first shipment of bauxite from Bua for this year is scheduled for May.

Xinfa Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited managing director, Isireli Dagaga confirmed this yesterday.

Mr Dagaga said currently there has been around 40,000 tonnes of bauxite stockpile ready for shipment.

He explained that bauxite mining at Nawailevu in Bua has been completed as the project is currently under its rehabilitation stage.

The company has since moved to Dreketi in Macuata and started mining in the area.

“We have started the new mine at Dreketi and are still building up our stock at the loading area. This is the reason we have not sent any ore shipment yet for this year.”

“All our mining crew are engaged at the new mining site while the rest of the employees are occupied with the Nawailevu rehabilitation works,” Mr Dagaga said.

Meanwhile, the jetty at Nawailevu sustained minor damages during the height of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Repair works have now been completed.

A total of 22 shipment of bauxite was carried out by the company from the year 2012 to 2015.

About a total of 64,000 dry metric tonne of bauxite was shipped out to China last April.