Residents of Natutu, Votua, and Nawaqarua in Ba are experiencing significant difficulties due to ongoing black sand mining operations that began in 2016. The Australian company Amex Resources Ltd has been dredging for magnetite in the Ba River, leading to considerable ecological disruption.
Alesi Mataka, the leader of Soqosoqo Vakamarama Natutu Village, highlighted the difficulties faced by local fishermen, including her husband, who now spends over a week at sea due to dwindling fish populations near the coastline. She noted that many men are forced to rent boats, causing additional financial strain. The increasing scarcity of income and food has resulted in heightened tensions within families, necessitating regular intervention from village leaders.
Tevita Evo, an advocacy project coordinator with the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), pointed out the direct repercussions the mining has had on local fishing communities that depend on the Ba River for their livelihoods. He expressed concerns about the extensive environmental damage that has been largely overlooked by the current government despite their efforts to provide evidence-based research on the issue.
Compensation from the mining activities has been narrowly focused on the Yavusa (tribe) of Votua, which has sparked feelings of injustice among other affected communities. Vani Tuvuki, chairperson of FCOSS, criticized the minimal compensation of $240 per person in 2021 and a small payment made in March 2023, advocating for more comprehensive compensation to include those impacted by the environmental degradation.
Village leaders, including Alusio Waisele of Votua and Alipate Naqolo of Natutu, voiced their dissatisfaction with the previous government’s lack of transparency regarding the mining’s implications, asserting that they were only informed about the exploration license and not the full consequences. They expressed disappointment over unmet commitments and insufficient consultation, noting that their requests to halt the project were disregarded by the Ministry of Land and Mineral Resources in March 2023.
The mining activities have disrupted the Ba River’s flow, created an island of sand, and adversely affected surrounding communities. Despite ongoing concerns, Alivereti Tuidravuni, the general manager of Amex Resources, has refused to comment on the matter.