The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has rejected the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the proposed Energy-from-Waste Plant and Private Port Facility at Vuda Point, citing significant unresolved concerns relating to environmental, public health, social and economic impacts.
In a statement today, the ministry said the decision was issued to project proponent The Next Generation Holdings (Fiji) Pte Limited following a technical review conducted under the Environment Management Act 2005 and the Environment Management (EIA Process) Regulations 2007.
The review found that several critical issues remained unresolved, including the scale of the project, waste supply arrangements, imported waste, hazardous ash management, water supply requirements, public health risks, environmental impacts, road and port infrastructure needs, social and cultural implications, tourism impacts and the overall economic viability of the proposal.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael said the decision was based solely on 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.”
He said several critical matters were proposed for future assessment rather than being addressed within the EIA process 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 high level of public interest in the proposal and thanked 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.
The ministry said it remained committed to transparent, lawful and evidence-based environmental decision-making in the public interest.
