New Minister of Mines Manuari announces COI into 33 shipments

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The new minister of Mines Derick Manuari has this morning announced a Commission of Inquiry into the 33 Shipment of Bauxite from Rennell and Bellona, which the exporters had failed to pay royalties to the government, the landowners and the province.

Announcing the COI, Manuari who only took over as the new minister last week stated his clear intention for the urgent establishment of the inquiry.

He said the only delay maybe the sourcing of finance for the COI but he’s working with the Office of the Prime Minister to push it urgently.

Between 2017 and 2019, APID which mined West Rennell had exported 33 shipments of bauxite ore with no royalties being paid to the state.

As revealed today, royalties to the government is $4.3m, landowners $3.4m and the province $864, 558,62.

-more to follow-