Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources

Fiji Mineral Resources Department

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

Fiji's Sustainable Development Bill

Protection of the environment will be enshrined in the proposed environmental legislation - Fiji's Sustainable Development Bill. This is currently being compiled by the Department of the Environment. It is expected that this Bill will formalise existing policies and principles.

Mineral Sector Specific Policies

Government recognises the economic contribution of mineral sector developments to national growth, but also accepts that mineral sector developments have socio-environmental impacts.
The Department of the Environment (as the national environmental policy formulating body) has established an environmental impact assessment process which provides a framework for the assessment of all socio-environmental impacts of mining projects.

The Nasivi River, adjacent to mining tenement.
The Nasivi River, adjacent to the mining tenements at Vatukoula

Developers are required to submit all information/assessments as required by this process to the Mineral Resources Department (as the primary regulating agency for the mineral sector).

Developers are expected to identify anticipated impacts and suggest methods of compliance with acceptable international standards for mine-related environmental releases. They are also expected to provide technical justification for their choice of environmental monitoring program, and for environmentally-sensitive mine-design decisions.

The mining industry, in consultation with Government, will formulate an environmental code of practice for its members, and will set acceptable environmental standards. In addition, the industry will be required to devise a self-regulatory mechanism to ensure that its members adhere to the codes of practice.

Developers are required to post a refundable bankers guarantee, as surety of best practice. The amount of the bond will be determined by the Mineral Resources Department according to the element of risk associated with the project.

The developer will pay compensation to any person or community whose well-being, environment, or income is adversely affected by the mining project. The level of compensation will be determined by Government in consultation with the mine developer and the person or community entitled to compensation, after considering the degree of impact. Compensation is linked to the degree of impact, not to the value of the mineral

Wherever possible, mines are expected to rehabilitate progressively during their operation. Government believes that, ultimately, this will reduce the total costs of rehabilitation. In line with Government's adoption of the precautionary principle, and to ensure that sufficient funds are available to complete rehabilitation at mine closure, the mining project developer will be expected to make contributions to a Mine Closure and Rehabilitation Fund. Government accepts that for certain projects, the mine area can never be restored to its original state.