More than two million dollars have been distributed to landowners as mineral royalties so far this year.

This was made possible through the Fair Share of Mineral Royalties Act that was passed in parliament earlier this year.

Lands Ministry Permanent Secretary, Malakai Finau confirms the first set of shares was recently distributed to landowners in Vatukoula.

He adds landowners at Nabiti village and Nawailevu in Bua have also received their shares for the removal of bauxite.

-“For Nabiti we started with $79,786 fair shares for landowners and for Nawailevu the total royalty that was shared is $1.23 million. The landowners’ share of the royalty is about 1 million dollars.”_

Finau adds more mineral royalty distribution is in the pipeline.