The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has clarified that a proposed corporate transaction involving seabed minerals explorer AOMC and Odyssey Marine Exploration does not alter the status of any exploration licence or give the companies ownership or control of seabed mineral resources. The SBMA said the proposed transaction, disclosed through US Se...

Solomon Islands Deputy Prime Minister Francis Sade has reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring the country's mineral wealth delivers greater economic benefits to its citizens, endorsing a policy of increasing national participation in the mining sector. Sade welcomed Guadalcanal Premier Willie Atu's endorsement of the government's "First Bit...

Lion One Metals Ltd. has acquired a new Boart Longyear LM90 underground core drill as part of its strategy to expand production at the Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Mine, with the equipment expected to improve exploration and resource growth in two key mineralised zones. The Canadian gold producer said the purpose-built underground drill will allow it to conduc...

Fiji is leading negotiations on international rules governing the closure of deep-sea mining operations during the Thirty-First Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in Kingston, Jamaica, while continuing to push for stronger environmental safeguards and a precautionary approach to seabed mineral exploitation. The ISA's 31st Session, whic...

Canadian explorer Kalo Gold Corp. has confirmed widespread gold mineralisation at its 100%-owned Vatu Aurum Project in Fiji, with laboratory fire assays returning grades of up to 8.78 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, reinforcing the company's geological model ahead of a new phase of exploration. The assay results from the Wainikoro prospect confirmed that s...

Canadian gold producer Lion One Metals Ltd. has begun the first phase of a multi-stage expansion of its Tuvatu Gold Mine processing plant in Fiji, a project expected to increase mill capacity by one-third and lift annual gold production by about 2,100 ounces. The first phase, known as the Filtered Tailings Expansion Project, will increase nominal plant...

Solomon Islands Finance and Treasury Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has directed the Customs and Excise Division to immediately impose a 15% export duty on alluvial gold and gold concentrates, while ordering authorities to recover unpaid duties retrospectively from the date the Harmonised System (HS) 2022 tariff schedule came into effect. In a ministerial ...

The Solomon Islands government is strengthening efforts to combat corruption, illicit financial flows and revenue leakages in the mining sector as it prepares for increased mineral development and works toward rejoining the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). More than 30 representatives from government ministries, oversight bodies, l...

Canadian miner Lion One Metals Ltd reported a strong rebound in gold production during the second quarter of 2026 as operational improvements at its Tuvatu Gold Mine in Fiji lifted output, recovery rates and underground development. The company recovered 3,291 ounces of gold during the quarter ended June 30, up 21 per cent from the 2,726 ounces produce...

The Fiji government has continued distributing compensation to former Vatukoula mine workers and their families, advancing efforts to resolve one of the country's longest-running industrial disputes. Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Jone Maritino Nemani last week handed over compensation payments to 13 former min...

The Solomon Islands Government has begun consulting mining companies, customary landowners and other stakeholders on proposed reforms to its mining legislation aimed at attracting investment while strengthening environmental safeguards and community participation. The consultations form part of the Solomon Islands Sustainable Mining Development Project...

Kalo Gold Corp. has confirmed the presence of a gold-bearing epithermal system extending over a 1.8-kilometre strike length at its wholly owned Vatu Aurum Project in Fiji, following results from two reconnaissance drill holes that have strengthened the company's confidence in the area's exploration potential. The Vancouver-based gold explorer said dril...

Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea have agreed to strengthen cooperation on mining sector governance, with officials from Papua New Guinea expected to visit Solomon Islands as the two countries pursue reforms aimed at maximising the benefits of their mineral resources. The agreement followed a roundtable in Port Moresby between Solomon Islands Prime ...

The Solomon Islands has applied to rejoin the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), marking a renewed commitment to transparency and accountability as the country seeks to develop its mineral resources sector. The EITI announced on June 19 that it had received an application from the Solomon Islands government to become an implementing ...

Panguna landowners have expressed strong support for a new legislative framework aimed at advancing the redevelopment of the Panguna mine, following stakeholder consultations led by the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG). The consultations focused on the Bougainville Mining (Amendment) Act 2026 and the recent grant of Large-Scale Mining Lease No....

Kalo Gold Corp. has identified multiple in-situ low-sulphidation epithermal quartz veins at the Wainikoro prospect within its wholly owned Vatu Aurum Project in Fiji, as the company advances exploration and prepares for the next phase of drilling. The company reported surface values of up to 3,397 detectORE units (dU), equivalent to an estimated 3.40 g...