Lands Ministry calls on FLP to stop misleading people

The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources says the allegation by Fiji Labour Party that some 20 containers of Gold Ore has been shipped out to China is ridiculously false, libelous, misleading, and mischievous.

FLP Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry said in statement that a Chinese company engaged in a joint venture operation at the Vatukoula Gold Mines has removed thousands of tonnes of Gold Ore from the mine since last December without the approval of the authorities, for intended shipment to China for final processing.

Chaudhry alleged that after initial processing on the mine site, the ore is packed in huge, especially manufactured bags, put in containers and taken to Lautoka at night.

However the Ministry of Lands says these allegations by Chaudhry are misplaced and devoid of truth, because ores are not globally exported as they are uneconomical in business and in mining practice.

The Ministry says the FLP has failed to distinguish minerals in its processed form which is unfortunate and shows lack of understanding of the mineral resource sector.

It says the gold concentrates is the refined product of raw ore whilst gold dore is the refined product of gold concentrates.

The process of acquiring a permit to export any earth-based mineral only requires the statutory approval of the Director Mines and not of anybody else.

The Ministry says the assertion by the FLP, that the 20 containers exported unlawfully would not have happened without the approval by the Minister for Lands and the Minister for Finance is a cheap political shot made by someone who, if informed, would understand that the two Cabinet Ministers have no power, statutory or otherwise – to approve or not approve any mineral export permit.

The Ministry says Regulation 80 of the Mining Regulations 1966 outlines the procedure for exporting minerals from Fiji.

It requires exporters to notify the Director of Mines with specific details about the minerals intended for export.

Upon verification that all due royalties have been settled or appropriately secured, the Director issues a mineral export licence and forwards a copy to the relevant customs authorities for verification and calculation of export tax.

This process ensures compliance with Fiji's mining and export regulations.

The Ministry says as of today, FRCS has not received any application for export from the Director of Mines.

It says last year, Vatukoula Gold Mine had requested to import gold concentrates from Goldridge, Solomon Islands to complement its productivity and smelter capacity here in Vatukoula because the mine was not producing enough gold to economically operate the smeltering plant.

The Ministry says the Minister for Finance has the power and authority to grant an import licence under Schedule 3 and Section 3 (1) of the Customs (Prohibited Imports and Exports) Regulation.

However, this can only be done based on clear advice from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, the Solicitor-General and the Reserve Bank of Fiji. The Ministry says the license issued to Vatukoula Gold Mine to import 200-kilograms of Low grade Gold Dore was time bound and nothing has been imported.

It says there was considerable delay in the approval process and the application was not able to be completed.

The Ministry adds the allegation of 300kg being imported from Hong Kong is designed to defame Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad.

It says the FLP statement is horrendously crafted, motivated by mischief and untruths which the public can see through as nothing short of cheap political shots.

Minister for Lands, Filimoni Vosarogo assures the general public that his Ministry under the Mineral Resources Department are comprised of capable, qualified and competent personnel who carry arduous statutory responsibilities, that they continue to discharge fairly, impartially and efficiently whenever they are called upon to do so.

The Ministry assures that there is no unlawful export of gold concentrates to China or elsewhere, as claimed by FLP.

It says presently, the consignment of gold concentrates earmarked for export are in Lautoka and they will be jointly inspected by their qualified personnel, biosecurity, and customs officers.