The Ministry of Lands has issued six mining leases to the gold mining in Vatukoula, Iron sand in Ba and the Bauxite in Vanua Levu.

Ministry of Lands Permanent Secretary Malakai Finau says there have been many exploration license given, however for a small country like Fiji, issuance of six mining leases is a great achievement.

”Research and Report indicated that mining linked to the exploration license that we have. We have less than hundred exploration license in the country, that’s include land and foreshore as well as deep sea areas”

Meanwhile, Finau is advising landowners to use the royalties wisely as mineral development is not renewable.