The Dolphin Shaft Deepening Project was officially commissioned by the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Jone Usamate yesterday heralding a new dawn for the Vatukoula Gold Mines Limited.

The project of $10 million is a significant one given that the last commissioning of a shaft was done back in 2003 (the Sautu and Cagivou Ventilation).

It signals promising potential for more silver and gold deposits and a target to extend mining activity in the area for 100 years or more, company acting General Manager Onisimo Fonmoa said.

The Dolphin Shaft is an old one which was initially five levels deep but further deepened 13 levels more.

This is after the investors saw more potential for mine deposits there.

Vatukoula Gold Mines has existed for the past 86 years offering great flow-on effect to Tavua’s economy and Fiji as a whole.

“Today’s event is a testament on the investment made by the company,” Mr Usamate said.

“Also, it is another strong indicator of investor confidence in investing in Fiji during this difficult economic climate and speaks volumes of Vatukoula Gold Mines Limited’s commitment to securing the future of mining in Vatukoula.

“I was told that the Dolphin Shaft was initially sunk in 1939 as the Wren Shaft and deepened to Five Levels by 1942.

“The shaft was closed in the early 1960s and reopened in 2017 primarily as a downcast Ventilation Shaft to improve ventilation and subsequently working conditions at the Philip Shaft.

“The proposal entailed the sinking of the shaft from 5 Level to 18 Level, which was a vertical distance of 650 metres.”

“I was advised also that works on the shaft commenced in 2018 and was undertaken by a team of experienced shaft sinkers from China after Vatukoula Gold Mines Limited received approval from the Mineral Resources Department.

“The works was done in phases with clearing of debris out of the old shaft, enlargement of the diameter of the shaft as first phase.”

Actual shaft sinking work began in early 2019 and all blasting work for shaft sinking was completed in late 2019 after shaft sinking reached targeted depth to 18 Level.

“Shaft equipping commenced in January 2020 and completed in November 2021.”

“All relevant tests to ensure safety for man-riding and material hoisting have been conducted and Dolphin Shaft will gradually progress to full operation after today’s commissioning.”

Background
There are currently five shafts operating at Vatukoula Gold Mines including the new and improved Dolphin Shaft which will begin works once logistical processes are in place.

There are 1400 people working at Vatukoula Gold Mines.

A shaft means access to an underground ore body is a vertical opening called a shaft.

The shaft is excavated, or sunk, from the surface downward to a depth below the deepest planned mining horizon.

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