New Caledonia's president, Cynthia Ligeard, has linked the territory's institutional future to finding a common policy on nickel.
The territory has about a quarter of the world's reserves of nickel, which is needed to produce stainless steel.
Ms Ligeard says the nickel resources is a factor contributing to tension while it is imperative for New Caledonia to have a coherent policy on nickel.
When the collegial government was formed in June, the nickel portfolio could not be attributed because of disagreements within the pro-independence camp.
New Caledonia has three huge nickel producing plants - two of which have opened this decade.