Need to hold companies accountable for quarry rehabilitation

February 21, 2024 3:35 am | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Anita Roberts.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Rich Tchamako Mahe, said there is need to implement tough measures to hold companies accountable for quarry rehabilitation efforts.

He said this following concerns raised in Parliament by the Members of Parliament (MPs) for Rural Efate, Andrew Samuel Kalpoilep and Jean Baptiste Tama regarding the lack of rehabilitation efforts at quarry sites on Efate following completion of works.

MP Tama believes it’s prudent to establish a taskforce to oversee post-operation actions, as it is negatively impacting the environment livelihoods in rural Efate. Once quarrying is complete, the areas become unusable, he stressed.

MP Kalpoilep questioned whether studies on environmental impacts are conducted after quarrying, noting that companies leave without fulfilling restoration obligations.

Prior to apply for a permit, companies should have a rehabilitation plan in place, said Minister Mahe. He said companies should not take advantage of the loopholes to avoid fulfilling obligations.

Mahe who tabled the Bill for the Quarry (Amendment) Act in Parliament yesterday said the amendment is required to address loopholes and effectively manage resources.

The bill provides for new categories of quarry permits such as the incubator quarry permit to allow custom owners to become entrepreneurs in the quarry industry, he said.

He mentioned that the bill also outlines the distribution of royalties based on base unit per volume, with 40% allocated to the government, 40% to the custom owner and 20% to the relevant provincial government council. Additionally, it empowers the ministers to establish quarry health and safety regulations.

“In the past, we have encountered health issues within the sector, hence the Act permits the minister the authority to enhance safety measures. Also, it will enable us to make regulation to penalise companies not complying with the Act,” he stressed.

The bill further provides for certain exemptions for certain permit holders from paying fees or royalties; and that a person undertaking any projects under the Public Works Department, through loan funding, is eligible for a commercial quarry permit.

When commenting on the bill, the MP for Efate Constituency and Second Deputy Speaker, Norris Jack Kalmet, expressed satisfaction with the proposed change, which would allow for custom owners to benefit from quarry operations.

He also stressed concern about the impact of quarrying at Teouma Bay.

Leader of Opposition and MP for Port Vila, Ishmael Kalsakau, said providing exemptions should not by-pass custom owners in receiving royalties. He questioned why the government should receive majority of royalty while a customary owner only receives 20%.

The Bill for the Quarry (Amendment) Act was passed unanimously after debate.