Rehabilitating the mine, which was abandoned by its last owner St Barbara in April 2014 after massive flooding, is a gargantuan task which includes the reconstruction of washed out roads and bridges to restore access to the mine.
However, work has been delayed by a falling out between the ministry of mines and the minority shareholding landowners company, Guadalcanal Community Investments Ltd.
Its chairperson, Walter Naezon, said this resulted in the mines minister cancelling their mining lease last year.
