A mining company in Fiji being accused of not paying royalties to landowners says it has handed over about 670,000 US dollars to the government.
Landowners in Fiji's northern division say they have not received any royalties from a bauxite mine run by Chinese company Aurum Exploration Limited since they consented to it in 2011.
Bauxite mine opening in 2011 Photo: SUPPLIED / Fiji government
A SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu says the company has only paid about 300,000 US dollars so far in royalties to the Lands Department, which still has not been given to landowners.
He says the company still owes about another 740,000 US dollars.
But an Aurum Exploration Limited spokesperson says it has paid the government about 670,000 US dollars and cannot pay landowners directly.
