Fiji road is mining spin-off

A beneficial side-effect of the copper exploration project in the mountainous Namosi area of Fiji is a road link with Suva. While the main object is to provide access to the exploration area, the road has given many villagers an easy link with Suva, which is about 57 km away.

Before the road was opened all requirements for the exploration team had to be flown in by helicopter.

The road was built by the Fiji Government and the prospecting consortium of Amax and Anglo American Ltd.

Amax held a 51% interest in the project and Anglo American 49%.

These percentages will be watered down as Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Ltd (CRA), is joining in.

CRA is initially providing SUSI.S

million to the current drilling pro gramme with the option of con tributing a further SUS 3 million for an ensuing evaluation drilling and bulk sampling programme. A simi lar amount is being provided by the Preussag group of West Germany, which joined the consortium earlier in 1977.

If results of the current drilling programme are favourable, evalua tion drilling, and shaft sinking with bulk sampling and testing will follow. It will be at least another two years before a feasibility study is started. Water quality and plant ecology studies initiated by the man ager of the venture in 1974, in co operation with the Fiji Government, will continue to parallel the ex ploration and testing activities.