Vanuatu

Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean. The country's mining history dates back to the early 1900s when the French administration explored for minerals in southern parts of the island of Efate. During World War II, the US Army established a small mining operation on the island of Santo to extract bauxite, which was used for the production of aluminum. However, after the war, the mining activities ceased and the industry remained dormant for several decades.

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In the late 1990s, a Canadian mining company, Inco, explored for nickel with promising results. The discovery ushered in a new era of mining in Vanuatu, with the government granting exploration licenses to several foreign mining companies. Today, the country's main minerals are gold, copper, and nickel. However, the mining industry is still in its infancy stage, and the government is actively working to develop the sector to drive economic growth and create jobs.