The inter-union of Société Le Nickel launches an SOS to employees so that they allow the transport of ore to the factory
The inter-union association of Société Le Nickel (SLN), a subsidiary of the Eramet group, is launching an SOS to employees so that they allow ore to be transported to the factory, otherwise the future of the company would be compromised, in this crucial sector of the New Caledonian economy.
“Without a resumption, in the next few days, of the loading of ore carriers in all our mining centers, the Doniambo furnaces, due to a lack of ore of sufficient quality and quantity, will be irreparably damaged and permanently stop functioning”explained the inter-union.
This pyrometallurgical plant in Nouméa processes the ore 24 hours a day, in three electric furnaces “among the most powerful in the world”according to the company.
Ore production is disrupted by protest movements against the electoral reform voted in Paris on May 15.
The main figure in the loyalist camp, Sonia Backès, also called for saving the Doniambo factory. “There is an absolute emergency on the SLN, which I reported yesterday to the President of the Republic”she told RRB radio. “If she doesn’t have any ore in the next two days (…) the ovens will stop. And if the ovens stop, it’s the end of the SLN”she warned.
Eramet indicated on Wednesday that all of its mines were “stopped for a week” due to “safety conditions (…) too degraded ».
The exploitation of nickel is the pillar of the New Caledonian economy, which is going through an unprecedented crisis after the fall of more than 45% in 2023 in the price of this metal.
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