No approval yet for $1.4b Vuda incinerator project, PM says

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says no approval has been granted for the proposed $1.4 billion waste incinerator project in Vuda–Saweni to proceed.

Mr Rabuka clarified that Cabinet had only approved the company to carry out due diligence, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and public consultations.

“No approval has been made for the business to proceed,” he said.

The proposed waste-to-energy project is led by Australian investors Ian Malouf and Rob Cromb.

The clarification comes as opposition to the project grows, with an online petition against the incinerator surpassing 5,000 signatures, according to campaigners.

The petition is hosted on Change.org, which verifies signatures using address data.

Campaign organisers claim that, relative to population size, the Vuda–Saweni petition is among the largest online campaigns opposing waste-to-energy projects.

Meanwhile, Australian resident Alexandra Forwood has alleged that Fiji’s Ambassador to Australia was involved in plans to bring 150 tonnes of Australia’s waste to Fiji as part of the project.

She also claimed that Prime Minister Rabuka had met with Mr Malouf.

Mr Rabuka confirmed the meeting but maintained that no approval had been granted for the project to proceed.