Fiji’s Department of Environment has rejected the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the proposed Energy-from-Waste Plant and Private Port Facility at Vuda Point, citing unresolved environmental, health, social and economic concerns.
The report was submitted by The Next Generation Holdings (Fiji) Pte Limited and reviewed under the Environment Management Act 2005 and the Environment Management (EIA Process) Regulations 2007.
According to the Department, the review found several key issues remained unresolved, including the scale of the project, waste supply, imported waste, hazardous ash management, water supply, public health risks, environmental impacts, road and port infrastructure, social and cultural impacts, tourism impacts and the project’s overall economic viability.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael said the decision was based on contents of the EIA Report and information formally submitted for assessment.
“This is not a decision against investment or against new waste solutions. It is a decision on whether the EIA Report met the legal and technical standards required for approval. It did not,” Dr Michael said.
“For a project of this scale, the Department must be satisfied that the risks to people, communities, the environment, culture, livelihoods and the economy are properly assessed and can be properly managed. Several critical matters remained unresolved and were proposed for future assessment rather than being addressed within the EIA itself.
As a result, the Department was not satisfied that the potential impacts and risks of the project could be adequately assessed or managed.”
The Ministry acknowledged the significant public interest in the proposal and thanked the traditional landowners of Vuda, residents of Vuda and Saweni, government agencies, civil society organisations, technical experts, businesses and members of the public who participated in the review process.
Further details on the decision are expected to be released during a press conference in Suva.
The Ministry said it remained committed to transparent, lawful and evidence-based environmental decision-making in the public interest.
