The Solomon Islands government has announced it will soon put out to international tender the nickel mine in Isabel Province.
The government says it is committed to expanding the local mining industry as a major revenue earner as logging weakens in the next five years.
It says the Tokyo-based Sumitomo Metal Mining has been exploring for nickel-ore deposits since 2006 on San Jorge and Takataka in Isabel Province.
The government says the reopening of the Gold Ridge mine and the ongoing nickel exploration in Isabel signals that Solomon Islands is back on track to develop its economy after years of ethnic tensions
The Minister for Mines, David Day Pacha, says it sends a signal that Solomon Islands is now a good place for investment.
Sumitomo Metal Mining is also expanding nickel explorations to Choiseul province.
