The Solomon Islands Mines and Energy Minister says he wants to engage a foreign company to conduct an airborne geophysical survey on Malaita Island, using a fixed wing aircraft.
Edward Huniehu says the airborne geophysical survey is intended to open up Malaita for future exploration of minerals.
He says using a-200-metre line spacing between flight paths, the proposed survey will have covered 23,000 kilometres at completion, adding there are two stages in on-going efforts to establish mining on Malaita.
Cabinet has approved the engagement of Professor Kenneth Collerson of the University of Queensland who worked in Malaita in the 1990s analysing rock samples, particularly garnet.
