The Department of Environment has formally rejected the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for a proposed energy-from-waste plant and private port at Vuda Point, finding the submission by The Next Generation Holdings (Fiji) Pte Limited failed to meet the legal and technical standards required under the Environment Management Act 2005 and related regulations.
A detailed technical review by the Department identified multiple unresolved and critical matters that, in its view, prevented a satisfactory assessment of the project’s risks and impacts. Among the issues flagged were the overall scale of the development, unclear sourcing and potential importation of waste, the proposed management and disposal of hazardous ash residues, adequacy of water supply, and potential public health risks. The review also cited broader environmental and infrastructure concerns, including likely social and cultural effects, tourism impacts, and heightened demands on road and port infrastructure. The Department questioned the overall economic justification put forward in the EIA report.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr. Sivendra Michael said the decision was based strictly on the legal and technical standards applied to the material submitted. “This is not a decision against investment or against new waste solutions. It is a decision on whether the EIA Report met the legal and technical standards required for approval. It did not,” Dr. Michael said, stressing that several critical matters had been left for future assessment rather than being addressed within the EIA itself. As a result, the Department concluded it could not be satisfied that potential impacts could be adequately assessed or managed.
The Vuda proposal had attracted sustained public attention and strong submissions from a range of stakeholders during the formal review period. The Department noted substantial input from Vuda landowners, nearby communities, civil society groups and industry stakeholders, and thanked these parties as well as government agencies and members of the public for participating in the consultation process. Those submissions and technical comments informed the Department’s determination that the EIA did not provide the level of evidence and analysis required for approval.
The rejection means the project cannot proceed on the basis of the EIA as submitted. The Department’s statement makes clear that any future progress will require the proponent to address the deficiencies identified and to demonstrate, through an amended or new assessment, that environmental, health, cultural and infrastructure risks can be properly managed in line with statutory requirements.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change reiterated its commitment to transparent, evidence-based decision-making in the public interest. By framing the decision as one grounded in statutory and technical criteria rather than opposition to the concept of waste-to-energy, officials left the door open for proposals that fully meet regulatory expectations and robustly assess potential harms and mitigation measures. The Next Generation Holdings (Fiji) Pte Limited has been notified of the Department’s determination, and any next steps will depend on whether the company chooses to revise its submission.