New Caledonia

Xstrata’s Koniambo project in the South Pacific French territory of Kanaky-New Caledonia, formerly owned by Falconbridge, is coming under increasing scrutiny and criticism. The proposed nickel mine, in the northern province of Kanaky-New Caledonia, will be one of the largest mines in the world when it is built. The territory, called New Caledonia (Nouvelle-Caledonie) by the French, is called Kanaky by its native Kanak inhabitants.

The Dominion Newspaper is a cooperative, independent, grass roots publication. A special edition, State of Mine: An Investigation of Canada's Extractive Industries was published in November 2008 and is available online at: www.dominionpaper.ca/issue/55. The online edition features 37 articles on mining issues in Canada and internationally, including articles by MiningWatch Canada's Ramsey Hart and former National Coordinator Joan Kuyek.

A unique opportunity presented itself as a result of the Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Extractive Sector in Developing Countries. On November 13th, 2006, MiningWatch Canada brought together a panel in Montreal made up of community leaders from Indonesia, Guatemala, New Caledonia, and Canada who discussed their struggles against Inco (now CVRD-Inco, having been acquired by the Brazilian firm CVRD-Companhia Vale do Rio Doce).

On June 8th, 2006, magistrate Jean-Paul Briseul of the Administrative Court of Nouméa in New Caledonia called on his fellow magistrates to declare Goro-Nickel SA’s licence to operate the Goro mine illegal. On June 15th, the Administrative Court revoked Inco’s 2004 mining licence.