SIGATOKA, November 9, 2026 — Opposition to the proposed Kulukulu iron sands mining project is intensifying after a public consultation on November 7 revealed unresolved questions about waste disposal and potential damage to the Sigatoka River. Residents and activists are demanding the government halt the project, citing risks to a major tourism artery and an ancestral burial ground.
Waste Disposal Questions Dominate Consultation
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) public consultation took place at Kulukulu Public Primary School in Nadroga on November 7, 2026. Former Fijian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Naipote Katonitabua pressed Magma Mines Pte Ltd engineers on where liquid waste from the proposed operation would go, specifically asking if it would enter the Sigatoka River. “Where will you dispose your liquid disposal from this mining? Is there any disposal into the river, or where will you keep your disposal in terms of mining?” Katonitabua asked, according to a Fiji Sun report.
Katonitabua, who is originally from Vunavutu Village, also noted the project’s proximity to an existing sewage treatment facility. “Just opposite the site you are recommending for your steel trial is the sewage plant. So we do not want to again dispose of unnecessary elements into a river that has already been unfairly treated by the developer around this area,” he said. Magma Mines engineer Peter Hinner responded that any material extracted through approved river dredging would be deposited on land and processed at a plant, rejecting comparisons to previous dredging operations that discharged slurry indiscriminately. Permanent Secretary for Environment Dr Sivendra Michael stated that waste management permits for solid and liquid waste are separate from the EIA process and would be required for any mining operations.
EIA Criticized for Gaps in Cultural and Archaeological Assessment
Climate activist Anne-Marie Raduva presented a petition signed by 10,083 people from 61 countries opposing the project. Raduva criticized the 427-page EIA report for failing to properly examine the project’s environmental, cultural, historical, and archaeological impacts. She argued the assessment focuses on operational matters like dust, spills, waste, and water management while ignoring broader risks. “The mismatch between the overall project scope and ground or site activities are red flags that must be considered and evaluated,” Raduva said. She added that the EIA’s baseline investigation gives considerable attention to operational functions but “does not adequately assess the impacts and consequences.”
Ancestral Burial Ground and Tourism Hub at Stake
The proposed project sits beside the Sigatoka Sand Dunes under Special Prospecting Licence (SPL) 1495 held by Magma Mines Pte Ltd. Traditional owners identify the dunes as an ancestral burial ground and a protective wall against the sea for their villages. The dunes, located near Kulukulu village two kilometres northwest of Sigatoka, are also a major tourist attraction. Sigatoka serves as the principal urban centre for Nadroga-Navosa province and a major hub for Fiji’s Coral Coast tourism belt, which hosts many of the country’s leading hotels and resorts. Landowners of Nadroga displayed posters expressing their concerns during the consultation.
New Mining Bill Would Give Landowners Earlier Veto Power
Fiji’s Cabinet has approved a new Mining Bill that will give landowners the right to reject mining proposals from the very first stage of exploration. Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources Paula Cirikiyasawa said the legislation aims to give landowners more agency sooner in the process. The bill comes as public anger grows over the iron sands project. Dr Michael clarified that the current Special Prospecting Licence only permits exploration and investigative studies, not extraction.
Sources
- Calls grow to halt Sigatoka mining
- Sigatoka
- Shogun 7s to make debut at 2027 Coral Coast Fiji 7s
- Where will mining waste go? Sigatoka residents demand…
- Proposed laws will let Fiji landowners reject mining proposals sooner – ABC Pacific
- Haplogroup M1a1a2a
Photo: Hector Brasil / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
