Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i
Government trying to offset loss of export to Australia
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 6, 2016) – The New Caledonian government has authorised the exportation of low grade nickel ore to China to offset the loss of exports to Australia.
This also comes after truckers threatened to block the capital, Noumea, to force a favourable decision.
Two companies will be allowed to sell 350,000 tonnes each for a year but have to avoid producers which are in direct competition with New Caledonia's smelters.
The new export channels are meant to compensate for the loss incurred by the suspension of work at Queensland Nickel in Australia.
Last October, the government gave only one company an export licence for China.
The entire sector is in a deep crisis, prompting the government last...