Fiji is a country of more than 330 islands. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 860,000.

Development Minerals in Fiji

Fiji

Of the 68 active mineral extraction sites in Fiji, 66 mine Development Minerals.

Development Minerals in Fiji

Demand for quarried materials has skyrocketed in Fiji. Natural disasters, like Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, and a tenfold increase in road funding over the past decade, have led to surging demand and a doubling of the number of the nation's hard-rock quarries. Of the 68 active mineral extraction sites in Fiji: 43 are river gravel/sand dredging sites, 23 are quarries, and just two are for high-value minerals (1 gold and 1 bauxite).

According to the Fiji Roads Authority more than 500,000 cubic metres of stone is needed in 2016-2017 to build Fiji's roads, bridges and jetties and to protect Fiji's coasts. Of Fiji's $600m annual road budget, around $35-$40m will be spent on sourcing stone.

For small quarry and dredging businesses to succeed in Fiji, they need more than simply strong demand for their products. The sector requires support in the areas of business development, marketing, access to finance, quarry management and access to geological data.

Moreover, to ensure that the extraction of sand, gravel and stone meets high standards in the areas of environment, community, Mataqali relations, and health and safety, guidance and oversight are needed. For example, some river dredging sites in Fiji have faced the problems of river bank erosion, river turbidity (where sediment gets suspended in the water and can cause environmental and river navigation challenges), and conflicts with other river users, such as tour operators.

Uganda

East Africa

Population growth is creating a huge demand for housing and infrastructure, as well as the Development Minerals needed for the construction industry.

Guinea

West Africa

Guinea-Conakry is one of the world's top bauxite producers, but it also has the potential to realise opportunities from the mining of Development Minerals.

Zambia

Southern Africa

Zambia is paving more than 2000 km of roads with locally sourced pavers and cobblestones and in the process is creating tens of thousands of jobs.

Cameroon

Central Africa

The Government of Cameroon requires contracting authorities to incorporate local materials in the construction of public buildings.

Jamaica

Caribbean

Ancient coral, long ago compressed into limestone under the weight of mud, sand and yet more coral, accounts for 65% of the Jamaican island by weight, and 85% of its surface coverage.

Fiji

Pacific

Of the 68 active mineral extraction sites in Fiji, 66 mine Development Minerals.

Participating Countries

Forty (40) countries are participating in regional level training and knowledge exchange. Find out which ones.

[Africa] [Caribbean] [Pacific]


Focus Countries

Six (6) countries are undertaking in depth capacity building and country level training.

  • Pacific Regional Training Workshop on Geodata Digitization and Mapping of Development Minerals

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  • Fiji Revamps Quarry Standards

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  • Fiji: Sand, Worth it's Weight in Gold

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  • Pacific Regional Training Workshop on Environment, Community, Health and Safety

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