Amex Resource Limited, an iron sand exporter based in Lautoka, Fiji, is showing progress after years of struggle. The company recently initiated a three-day loading operation for its second batch of iron sand to be exported to China this year, amounting to approximately 50,000 tonnes.
Increased efficiency and improvements in management and equipment have resulted in a better performance this year, shared general manager Alivereti Tuidravuni. The knowledge and professional skills of Fijian staff, cultivated through global exchange, have also contributed to the company’s growth.
Several positions are still open at Amex, which currently has a workforce of around 100 employees. Despite successful production in the current timeline, Australian shareholders have voiced dissatisfaction with the production rate, as the company is yet to reach profitability.
To improve the situation, Amex’s board of directors has increased investments, focusing on technological innovation. A three-phase technological upgrade plan has been drafted by mining industry experts, with the first phase introducing an advanced hydraulic cyclone device to improve production efficiency. The device is projected to undergo preliminary testing in two months.
Moreover, Australian stakeholders have invested $1.1 million to acquire a second dredging ship from China to ensure continuous production. With these technological upgrades, the company expects a quick increase in shipment frequency.
Amex is also investing in workforce development, seeking young technical talents to deal with new technological upgrades. Tuidravuni emphasized that the production tasks in the second half of the year would be even more challenging, reiterating the urgency to continue the upgrades.