The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is preparing to undertake a compliance inspection of the Natadola Cable Landing Development Project to verify activities on the ground and determine whether environmental approvals, conditions and legal requirements are being followed.
A ministry statement said the inspection would be carried out in accordance with its regulatory responsibilities under the Environment Management Act 2005 (as amended), amid public concerns surrounding the development and its links to a proposed Google ICT facility.
It clarified that the environmental approvals issued for the Natadola Cable Landing Development Project did not amount to approval of a hyperscale Google data centre.
“The assessments submitted to it related to cable landing infrastructure under the Pacific Connect initiative, a regional telecommunications programme establishing subsea cable links between Fiji, the United States, Australia and French Polynesia,” the ministry said.
It indicated community members appeared to be viewing the cable landing works, the proposed Google ICT facility and wider data centre development as one connected project, although the components were assessed separately.
“Three Environmental Management Plan (EMP) applications were lodged, with the Landing Station Facility developed by Staghorn Services Pte Ltd approved with conditions on July 19, 2024.
“The Marine Subsea Cable Landing, developed by Yellowfin Infrastructure Pte Ltd, was approved with conditions on September 23, 2024.”
However, the EMP application for two beach manholes and trenching of conduits leading to the landing station facility was declined on February 5, 2025, due to community concerns, objections and insufficient social survey and consultation information.
They said the cable landing development had neither been applied for nor assessed as a hyperscale data centre, meaning international water consumption figures associated with large data centres were not applicable.
“The ministry remains committed to ensuring that development proposals are assessed transparently and responsibly, with due consideration given to community concerns, environmental protection, and compliance with Fiji’s environmental laws and regulations.”
