21 Nov 2008

New Caledonia's SLN nickel company opens a new mineral ore treatment plant

11:23 am on 21 November 2008

New Caledonia's SLN nickel company has opened a new mineral ore treatment plant in the territory's north aimed at boosting production at its main smelter.

The company spent 160 million US dollars to set up the plant which will employ 140 people, marking the biggest investment in the mainly Kanak north since the signing of the 1998 Noumea accord.

The plant in Tiebaghi will process the ore from the nearby mine before it is transported 400 kilometres south to the Noumea smelter.

The mine has reserves of about 30 million tonnes of ore.