The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources has clarified that no revenue is generated during the mineral exploration phase, following community concerns raised at a recent talanoa session in Nadi with Tikina members from Ba Province.

Director of Mineral Development, Dr. Apete Soro, emphasized that exploration is strictly an investment stage where companies spend considerable funds on geological mapping, sampling, and surveys to determine the viability of potential mineral deposits.

“Exploration is purely an investment phase,” Dr. Soro said. “There is no income for the investor at this point—only expenditure.”

He noted that landowners have shown increasing interest in forming joint ventures with prospecting companies, but advised that such business arrangements are premature during this stage. “This is a period of spending, not earning. We recommend landowners wait until the mining phase before considering commercial partnerships,” he added.

The only income generated during this phase is through government-issued license and administrative fees. For landowners, the sole financial benefits come in the form of compensation for land access and any disturbance caused by exploration activities.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable mineral development and ongoing community engagement to ensure informed decision-making throughout the exploration-to-mining process.

This clarification forms part of the Ministry’s broader awareness efforts aimed at improving understanding of mineral sector operations, regulatory processes, and long-term benefits for Fijians.