Home / Environment / Fiji Faces "Waste Colonialism" Over Burn Project
Fiji Faces "Waste Colonialism" Over Burn Project
23 Apr
Summary
- A $630m waste incinerator plan near Fiji's tourism hub faces opposition.
- Critics warn of "waste colonialism" and risks to Fiji's paradise.
- The project could cut Fiji's diesel reliance but raise emissions.
A controversial $630 million plan by Australian billionaires to construct a port and waste incinerator near Fiji's tourism gateway, Nadi, is facing strong backlash. Local villagers and Fiji's UN ambassador have decried the proposal, with the ambassador warning against Fiji becoming "the Pacific's ashtray" and labeling the concept "waste colonialism."
Proponents, including businessman Rob Cromb, whose family has ties to Fiji, argue the facility could supply 40% of the nation's electricity, decreasing its reliance on diesel. However, an environmental impact statement indicates a potential 25% rise in Fiji's national emissions. This raises concerns about the safety and environmental impact on nearby villages and the country's crucial eco-tourism industry.
The project's developer, TNG, led by Australian magnate Ian Malouf, previously saw a similar incinerator rejected in Sydney in 2018 due to health risks. Opponents point to this history and argue that Fiji should manage its own waste rather than importing it, potentially breaching international hazardous waste conventions. Fiji's government has stated the project is under review.
