Vatukoula mine

Vatukoula mine
The Vatukoula mine in 1951.
Interactive map of Vatukoula mine
Location
Viti Levu
CountryFiji
Coordinates17°30′27.86″S 177°51′18.99″E / 17.5077389°S 177.8552750°E / -17.5077389; 177.8552750
Production
ProductsGold

The Vatukoula mine is a gold mine in Fiji. It is one of the country's largest gold mines, and one of the largest in the world.[1] The mine is located in Vatukoula in the south of the country, on Viti Levu, the largest island of Fiji.[1]

The mine was closed in December 2006, and was subsequently reopened in April 2008 as the price of gold increased. The mine has an estimated 4.2 million ounces of gold.[1]

The mine was the site of the longest strike action in Fijian history and one of the longest in world history, the Vatukoula mine strike. For thirty-three years, between 1991 and 2024, around 360 miners employed at the mine went on strike over poor health and safety standards, poor housing conditions, and complaints of discrimination.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Vatukoula Gold Mines". vgmplc.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-03-25. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  2. ^ Azeemah, Aisha (20 August 2024). "Turning the tide: Inside the longest strike in Fiji's history". Islands Business. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ Macdonald, Ingrid (July 2004). "Mining Ombudsman Case Report: Vatukoula Gold Mine" (PDF). Oxfam. Retrieved 20 November 2024.