Gravel

The company is the main contractor involved in the redevelopment of Bauerfield airport.

RNZI reports the metal remained on a vessel at Mele Bay amid concerns it could be contaminated with foot and mouth disease.

But the company sought to reassure the people of Vanuatu.

In a statement it said the aggregate was never going to off-loaded, rather it served as ballast to balance the heavy machinery being carried higher on the vessel.

The chair of Efate's Vaturisu Council, Chief Henry Manlaewia, said he was alarmed by reports from the Department of Biosecurity that the aggregate had been imported without being treated before shipment.

Citing the fear of contamination from foot-and-mouth-disease, the department stopped the gravel from being unloaded from a ship still moored in Port Vila harbour.

China Civil Engineering and Construction Company was contracted by the World Bank to fix the airport's runway, and the company said crushing the gravel locally would delay the project.