Environment Ministry says key Natadola project component declined

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has clarified that a key component of the proposed Natadola cable landing development was refused environmental approval because of community concerns and inadequate public consultation, despite two other parts of the project receiving approval.

In a statement , the Ministry said the Pacific Connect project comprised three separate developments, each assessed independently under the environmental approval process and not as a single project.

It said the proposed landing station facility developed by Staghorn Services Pte Limited received Environmental Management Plan (EMP) approval with conditions on July 19, 2024, while the marine subsea cable landing developed by Yellowfin Infrastructure Pte Limited was approved with conditions on September 23, 2024.

However, the proposed construction of two beach manholes and trenching works linking the cable to the landing station was declined on February 5, 2025.

The Ministry said the refusal followed concerns over the adequacy of community consultation and social survey information.

A social survey conducted in June 2024 involved 50 households in Sanasana Village and stall operators at Natadola Beach. Twenty-eight households participated, while 22 declined to be interviewed. Of those interviewed, four opposed the proposal, citing concerns about its impact on their surroundings, tourism activity and income, while the remaining respondents did not object provided their businesses were not affected.

The Ministry said it later requested additional consultation involving affected stakeholders, including Vanua Naholo, the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, the iTaukei Land Trust Board and the Nadroga Provincial Office.

Following that process, the Department declined the application for the beach manholes and trenching works.

The Ministry said the proponent had been advised that community concerns and consultation issues must be satisfactorily addressed before the application could be reconsidered.

The statement also addressed public concerns linking the development to the high water consumption associated with large overseas data centres.

It said the project assessed by the Department was a cable landing development comprising a landing station, beach manholes, conduits and a marine subsea cable landing, and not a hyperscale data centre.

The Ministry said international water consumption figures for large data centres therefore did not apply, adding that the proposed facility was similar to the Fiji International Telecommunications Ltd (FINTEL) cable landing station at Vatuwaqa, which also accommodates Google's Bulikula and Tabua undersea cables.

The Ministry also said it was aware of concerns about activities taking place within the project area and was prepared to carry out a compliance inspection to determine whether all environmental approvals, approval conditions and legal requirements were being met.

It said it remained committed to ensuring development proposals were assessed transparently and responsibly while taking into account community concerns, environmental protection and compliance with Fiji's environmental laws.