Gas crematorium to be installed at Varoko Cemetery in Ba as Fiji expands eco-friendly end-of-life facilities nationwide
The Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs will fund a gas-fired crematorium at Varoko Cemetery in Ba, with completion targeted for December. The new facility will serve Ba and Tavua, offering a modern and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional funeral pyres. This project forms part of a national rollout of gas crematoriums in Lautoka, Ba, Navua and Tuatua, according to Multi-Ethnic Affairs Minister Charan Jeath Singh. He said the initiative will help cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pressure on forests, including mangroves and native trees often used in pyres.
The ministry’s Director for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Ashwini Singh, and other officials visited the Ba site this week and held discussions with the cemetery committee to ensure deadlines are met. The request for assistance was made during the last financial year. Singh emphasised that the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and to meeting the needs of Fiji’s diverse communities.
Context and broader trend
Ba’s project sits within a broader push to upgrade end-of-life facilities across Fiji. Earlier this year, Labasa’s Tuatua Cemetery was targeted for a gas crematorium, with completion expected by late July and funding around $250,000. That initiative mirrors other national efforts to modernize funeral services, including enhancements to cultural and memorial spaces such as Shradh Ghat in Korovatu, Labasa, and plans to establish commemorative sites like the Girmit Museum in Lautoka.
National developments also include Suva’s new eco-friendly crematorium and memorial garden, a $4.8 million facility featuring advanced cremation technology designed to minimize emissions and a modern setting for funeral services. The site accommodates up to 400 attendees and offers memorial options that ease land-use pressures by allowing ash interments in plots designed for multiple urns. These upgrades align with Fiji’s National Development Plan and reflect a broader commitment to greener, more dignified end-of-life care.
A wider investment in mortuary and end-of-life infrastructure is underway. The government has announced about $1.2 million for new mortuary units across the country, with facilities planned or under construction at Rakiraki and Tavua Sub-Divisional Hospitals, Nadarivatu Health Centre, Taveuni Sub-Divisional Hospital, Kadavu, Levuka, Savusavu, Dreketi, Wainibokasi, Navua, Nabouwalu and Nayavu Health Centre. The recent opening of a new mortuary at Raralevu cemetery in Nausori—costing around $350,000 and funded through community contributions—illustrates how local involvement complements national funding to expand capacity and reduce overcrowding in morgues.
Community involvement and practical benefits
These projects underscore a growing emphasis on community-driven solutions and public-private partnerships to deliver dignified end-of-life services. By expanding cremation and mortuary facilities, Fiji aims to reduce logistical pressures on families during bereavement, improve service reliability, and support responders and healthcare workers tasked with handling mortality cases. The Ba and Labasa initiatives, alongside Suva’s memorial garden and other mortuary upgrades, signal a hopeful shift toward environmentally conscious and culturally respectful practices.
What to watch next
– The Ba project’s December completion target will be watched alongside Labasa’s July timeline to gauge rollout speed and procurement progress.
– Ongoing updates on how new facilities coordinate with local communities, temple and cemetery committees, and health authorities.
– Potential follow-up on the operational aspects of new sites, such as hours of service, staffing, and how ash disposal or memorial options are managed.
Summary
Fiji is advancing a nationwide program to modernize end-of-life services by introducing gas crematoriums and upgraded mortuary facilities in multiple towns. The Ba project in Varoko Cemetery reflects a broader strategy to reduce emissions, ease land pressures, and provide dignified, culturally respectful options for families during bereavement, backed by a mix of government funding and community contributions. The trend points to a more sustainable and resilient framework for funeral care across the country, with continued expansion expected in the coming years.
Leave a comment