Home International Fate of nickel factory clouds New Caledonia’s independence vote

Fate of nickel factory clouds New Caledonia’s independence vote

367
0

NOUMEA, New Caledonia: France's South Pacific territory of New Caledonia risks seeing the closure of a nickel factory that has long been the lifeblood of its economy, a threat that could weigh heavily on a looming independence vote.

Advocates of remaining part of France worry that separatist parties could capitalise on a shutdown to press their case for taking back control of a strategic archipelago and its key industries.

Advertisement

Advertisement

"With the referendum just three weeks away, we are following this matter very closely and are indeed worried about the 3,000 jobs under threat," an official in the office of France's overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu told AFP.

Under a 1998 deal to devolve powers to the territory, Paris promised to hold votes on the future of New Caledonia, which gives France a large, exclusive economic zone in the Pacific and rich fishing resources.

It also provides a military foothold in a region where China is looking to bolster its influence, a worrisome development for Australia and New Zealand, as well as other Asia Pacific nations.

The first referendum two years ago saw independence rejected by 56.4 per cent of voters, but the contest was much closer than polls had predicted, raising the stakes for the next vote on Oct 4.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The pro-independence colours of New Caledonia at rally in Noumea in 2018. (AFP/Theo Rouby)

"ECONOMIC TSUNAMI"

Hanging over the vote is the future of a huge nickel extraction site owned by the Brazilian mining giant Vale, which says it can no longer afford to invest in the loss-making factory.

The territory is home to a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel, used in stainless steel but increasingly sought as a vital electronics component, in particular for rechargeable batteries.

On Tuesday, Vale said talks to sell the site to the Australian mining group New Century Resources had failed, and warned that unless a credible buyer emerged by end-October the site would be closed.

That would put nearly 1,300 employees, as well as hundreds of subcontractors out of work, and deprive local authorities of millions of euros in tax revenue.

"This is neither a bluff, nor blackmail," said Antonin Beurrier, Vale's chief in New Caledonia.

Self-rule advocates, many indigenous Kanak people and unions, had assailed the potential deal as a fire sale of the territory's mining heritage – something an independent New Caledonia would not allow.

"It would be an economic tsunami if the factory closed," saidRead More – Source

[contf] [contfnew]

channel news asia

[contfnewc] [contfnewc]

Previous article‘Superfungus’ threatens last Panamanian golden frogs
Next articleOman welcomes Bahrain-Israel normalisation decision