The French Polynesian government has given conditional approval to a bid to resume phosphate mining on Makatea atoll.
Plans are afoot to resume phosphate mining on Makatea atoll Photo: supplied French Polynesian presidency
In a statement issued after a one-day visit to the atoll, the government says it plans to have a survey to find out what people think of the project submitted by the Australian company Avenir Makatea.
It is not known when the survey will be held and when a decision will be made whether to grant a mining licence.
A presentation on the atoll says the company wants to mine the same 600 hectares which had been mined for half a century until operations ceased in the 1960s.
The plan is to export 35,000 tonnes of phosphate in the first two years.
The territorial government and the local mayor are in favour of renewed mining.
Environmentalists have been opposed to the project, fearing for the island's biodiversity.
An online petition to save the island has been signed by about 150,000 people
Plans are afoot to resume phosphate mining on Makatea atoll Photo: supplied French Polynesian presidency