Fiji’s Cabinet has endorsed proposed reforms to the country’s mining laws, paving the way for new legislation aimed at strengthening landowner rights, improving mine safety and tightening regulation of mineral exploration, mining and quarrying.
The proposed Mineral Exploration and Mining Bill 2026 and Mine Safety Management Bill 2026 follow a review of the Mining Act 1965 and Quarries Act 1939, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources and the Fiji Law Reform Commission.
The review involved 62 stakeholder consultations nationwide, including landowners, mining operators, workers, affected communities and other stakeholders.
The review sought to address gaps in legislation that has governed Fiji’s mining and quarrying industries for decades. It also considered regulatory practices in other jurisdictions, including Australia and Papua New Guinea, to inform proposed changes to transparency, accountability and resource management.
The proposed legislation aims to improve benefit-sharing and compensation arrangements, strengthen landowner rights and promote greater transparency and accountability in the mining sector.
Land access and the distribution of mining benefits have been key issues in the reform process. The government has highlighted the importance of ensuring that mining communities benefit not only through royalties but also through employment, local procurement and greater participation in resource development.
The reforms also seek to improve workplace safety, environmental protection and dispute resolution, while introducing digital management systems to strengthen regulatory oversight of mining activities.
The government has also pursued more data-driven monitoring of mining operations. Filimoni Vosarogo, minister for lands and mineral resources, previously said a pilot system using sensors to monitor a tailings storage facility was being tested at the Tuvatu mine. The system is intended to help mine managers and government inspectors identify potential problems earlier.
Fiji’s mining sector produces gold and iron sand, among other mineral products, making the regulatory review relevant to both existing operators and prospective investors.
Before the proposed bills are tabled in Parliament, a special consultation will be held with the Bose Levu Vakaturaga, or Great Council of Chiefs, through the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.
The proposed legislation would update the legal framework governing Fiji’s mining and quarrying industries, with implications for landowners, mining companies, workers and communities affected by resource development.
