(Boursier.com) — The government of New Caledonia has unanimously issued Société Le Nickel export authorizations for 2 million tonnes of nickel ore, bringing its annual export authorization to 6 million tons.
The announcement was made today in New Caledonia during a joint press conference between the New Caledonian Government and the SLN.
Eramet welcomes this decision, which provides SLN with the action framework it needs to implement the mining component of its rescue plan.
Since the arrival of low-cost producers around ten years ago, SLN has had to adapt by rebalancing its mining and metallurgical activities in order to remain competitive.
In April 2019, SLN obtained a first export authorization for 4 million tonnes of non-recoverable ore in New Caledonia. After 2.5 million tonnes in 2020, SLN exported nearly 3 million tonnes in 2021, a year marked by the disruption of SLN’s activities, particularly linked to the health crisis.
In 2022, the ramp-up should make it possible to exceed 4 million tonnes of exports. The ramp-up to 6 million tonnes will take place until 2024.
More than 300 people have been recruited, mostly in the North Province, in the mining villages and their employment pools to support this program, and nearly 200 new hires are planned by 2024.
SLN will always give priority to supplying its Doniambo plant with suitable ores in order to be transformed into ferronickel.
In line with Eramet’s commitments, SLN is supporting this development with a stronger social and civic approach in favor of the environment and the populations living near the sites in the two provinces.
The realization of SLN’s future project is also based on a significant reduction in the cost of energy at the Doniambo plant. Reflection on access to competitive electricity as well as the power plant project to supply Doniambo will have to be accelerated in 2022.
Christel Bories, Chairman and CEO of Eramet, commented: “I would like to thank the Government of New Caledonia and all the stakeholders who contributed to this decision. We are committed, alongside the New Caledonian authorities, to this that the SLN can trace a new trajectory.”
Calendar
02.23.2022: Publication of the Group’s 2021 annual results
04.28.2022: Publication of Group revenue for the 1st quarter of 2022