The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, along with the Environment Department, is investigating possible breaches by a company extracting gravel from the Raiwaqa River in Navua.
River Tubing Fiji, a local tourist operator, has raised concerns about the operation, highlighting significant risks of oil leakage and environmental contamination.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo confirmed the company was issued a license but stated that they are currently examining if the company has violated its licensing conditions.
Vosarogo stressed that the concerns raised are still “allegations.” He noted that the activities carried out by the licensed company might be breaching licensing conditions, which needs investigation and auditing.
He mentioned that upon receiving reports, a team is sent to inspect the situation. Currently, a joint investigation with the Ministry of Environment is ongoing to determine if there have been any violations.
Both ministries conduct separate investigations and often perform joint inspections. If breaches are identified, the company in question will be notified and penalized.
An inspection took place earlier this month in Raiwaqa, and the investigation is still in progress. Vosarogo stated that he is not yet informed of the findings but will take appropriate actions once the report is finalized.