Ministry Open To Mt Kasi Discussions

The Mineral Resources Department is open to discussions concerning developments surrounding Mount Kasi, said line minister Jone Usamate.

He was responding to a letter from a landowner objecting to Vatukoula Gold Mines being the successful bidder of the Mt Kasi tender.

“Our staff had met with the landowners in the village itself on this matter,” Mr Usamate said.

“Should there be a need to do so, we remain open to discussing concerns that they have.”

The Matter

Emori Bukadina said he was the spokesman and landowner for Wailevu West, home of the landowning unit of Mt Kasi.

He said the majority of the mataqali members of the landowning unit of Mt Kasi had indicated their preferred company of choice for the project.

Aquilo Gold

“We have our nominated company – Aquilo Gold,” Mr Bukadina said.

Local director of the company is Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.

Ratu Wiliame said he offered advice to disgruntled mataqali members who visited him after Vatukoula Gold Mines won the bid.

Aquilo Gold claimed it had bid for the tender. Mr Bukadina said the disgruntled landowners supported Aquilo Gold’s bid.

The company is made up of Fijian and Australian shareholders and directors According to Aquilo Gold’s website, the company was formed in Fiji in 2019 to seek out new deposits, acquire mining rights and operational licences.

Meanwhile, Vatukoula Gold Mines is awaiting instruction from the Mineral Resources Department over the next step, said general manager Yi Yuang.

He earlier announced Vatukoula Gold Mines plan to travel to Vanua Levu as part of the process in securing its special prospecting licence. SunBiz questions sent to the acting director for Mineral Resources Raymond Mohammed were unanswered when this edition went to press.

Some history

Mr Yi said the company would head north once internal travel restrictions eased.

Mt Kasi was first mined for gold between 1932 and 1946 by United Kingdom-based Anglo Pacific Exploration.

American gold mining company Newmont then teamed up with Anglo Pacific in a joint venture to further the development.

The partnership concluded when the mine shut down on the back of poor access to logistical supplies during the second world war.

Between 1997 to 1998, the mine was operated by Australian company Burdekin which formed a joint venture with Pacific Island Gold.

Cash flow problems prompted the close of the mine in 1998. In 2015, Newcrest Mining had carried out mineral exploration at the site.

In July last year, the Mineral Resources Department published an international tender for Mt Kasi.

The tender closed within a month, and was later awarded to Vatukoula Gold Mines.

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