LAND-clearing and road construction works at the bauxite mining site at Nawailevu in Bua are progressing well, says Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Limited manager Sang Lei.
Mr Lei said the company was focused on completing the road to the proposed site.
So far, the contractor hired by Aurum Exploration has completed the construction of a bridge inland.
"We had wanted to complete the road but there has been too much rain this year," Mr Lei said.
Mr Lei said the company received its licence to mine bauxite in the area two weeks ago.
"Our machines are coming, they should be in the country in the next few months," he told reporters who visited the site on Monday.
No locals have been employed at this stage but Mr Lei said 150 would be taken on board when operations start.
He said an environment impact assessment was approved and that Aurum Explorations received its licence on May 13.
Mr Lei earlier said mining would start on 30 hectares of land although the licence allowed mining on 130 hectares.
"This is historic for Fiji as it will now expand the exploration and mining of mineral resources from what used to be restricted to just a few natural resources like gold and copper," a statement from the Ministry of Lands said.
Mining is scheduled to start in six months.
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