As they do every year, the SMSP Group took part in International Women’s Rights Day on March 8. This year’s theme was “Rights and Justice.”

In 2026, the SMSP Group is proud to strengthen its commitment to women through concrete, field-based actions aimed at its operational teams on the topic of sexism. These actions contribute to the recognition and, above all, the implementation of women’s rights and justice for them.

Deepening and Coordination

In 2025, the Group offered its subsidiaries—KNS, NMC and Cotransmine—awareness workshops on sexism with the participation and support of Guénolé Bouvet and Maud Le Bar. These workshops, held in Nouméa and at NMC sites, were primarily intended for women.

Following these workshops, the Group began discussions with the NMC Human Resources Department to support actions undertaken by its subsidiary in this area. During 2025, two additional initiatives were validated and implemented: the creation of posters illustrating sexist behaviour, sexual assault, sexual harassment and rape.

In the same spirit, the SMSP Group also worked on producing a pilot video clip depicting a fictional sexist situation.

During this preparation phase, the Group and the HR departments also emphasized the importance of the DLS (Delegates for the Fight Against Sexism). These delegates act as real sentinels on site regarding sexist behaviours and remarks.

In 2026, the Group rolled out these materials and actions in the field in coordination with NMC, KNS and Cotransmine.

Poster Deployment

The posters created were distributed across all Group sites: from Nouméa (SMSP-SOFINOR, NMC Ducos and Cotransmine Numbo) to Ouaco (NMC and Cotransmine Téoudié), as well as Nakéty (NMC), Poya (NMC) and Vavouto (KNS).

The main objective of these posters is to raise awareness by presenting concrete examples of sexist behaviour, sexual assault, sexual harassment or rape.

What may seem obvious is not always obvious to everyone, and visual representation helps distinguish between a joke or habit and normalized, everyday sexism.

The second key action for the Group and its subsidiaries was the organization of mixed sexism awareness workshops.

Initially offered to women only  in 2025—since they are the main people affected—both women and their male colleagues expressed the wish that these workshops be offered to all employees, regardless of gender.

This positive and encouraging sign prompted the Group and the Human Resources departments to work together throughout 2025 and 2026 to make these workshops accessible to as many employees as possible in 2026.

The workshops began on Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11 at the NMC Ouaco site in the municipality of Kaala-Gomen. They were spread over two days and six different time slots to reach all teams, including those working at the seaside facilities.

Cotransmine employees from Téoudié also joined the NMC Ouaco seashore workshops. It was a moment of awareness and reflection for everyone, but also an opportunity to strengthen connections between subsidiaries.

Some examples of questions included:

• “Can I tell a woman ‘smile’ if I see she looks upset?” Would you say the same thing to a man if he looked upset?
• “Can I shake a woman’s hand?” Yes, if she also extends her hand. If she does not, it may mean she is not comfortable with physical contact—and that is perfectly okay.

During these workshops, the SMSP Group emphasized that the objective was not to judge or put teams on trial, but rather to identify sexist behaviours and remarks so that they can be addressed and stopped.

The goal is to enable teams to work in a safe workplace, respectful of everyone’s boundaries and free from inappropriate behaviour or comments.

Other activities were also organized during the week of March 9, including a “mobile debate” workshop. This short activity invites participants to position themselves on either side of a line on the floor depending on whether they consider a statement sexist or not.

This first workshop, which will be offered at other sites, took place at the SMSP-SOFINOR offices in Nouméa. In a light and engaging atmosphere, participants positioned themselves on the “sexist” or “non-sexist” side of the line according to the statement presented.

The exercise proved particularly interesting as it generated discussions—and sometimes debates—depending on the statements and participants’ positions. It helped raise awareness while also highlighting the nuances of behaviours and comments depending on context.

A second interactive workshop called “Future Fresco” will also be offered at sites in Nouméa. This activity allows participants to freely express their views on sexism by writing or drawing on a strip of paper the changes or improvements they would like to see.

Next Steps: Continuing Workshops and Sharing Materials

While International Women’s Rights Day takes place on a single date—March 8—the Group’s awareness campaign on sexism is intended to continue throughout the year.

Additional posters will be deployed and awareness workshops will soon continue at NMC Nakety and Poya, and at KNS, depending on operational constraints.

The Group will also continue producing educational materials, particularly awareness videos featuring volunteers from different sites.

The SMSP Group communications team would like to warmly thank and congratulate all employees who participated in the workshops, those who helped put upl the posters, and the management teams within the subsidiaries who made it possible to hold the workshops and distribute the posters.

Let us continue working together to build a healthy workplace that respects everyone’s boundaries, enabling us to achieve our operational objectives in health, safety, and in alignment with our values.

The post International Women’s Rights Day 2026 – March 8 first appeared on SMSP.

As announced in a press release dated July 26, the redundancy procedures for economic reasons take effect from August, 31, 2024 for almost all the 1,200 employees at the site.

As a reminder, on 29^th February 2024, the Koniambo Nickel Site was put on warm standby, with the retention of the entire salaried employees, paid by Glencore for a period of 6 months, i.e. until 31^st August 2024. This agreement was reached thanks to the joint efforts of Glencore, SMSP and KNS.

At the beginning of June, as required by law, the 3-month redundancy proceedings were nevertheless launched, while the search for a buyer was still underway.

Unfortunately, despite discussions and efforts to find a buyer, the 6-month period came to an end on 31st August. On July 26, Koniambo Nickel announced the arrangements for terminating the employment contracts of its 1,200 employees.

Now that negotiations on severance packages have been completed and an agreement signed, the Work Council wanted to mark the end of this period in a more enjoyable way.

According to Frédéric NARCISSOT, the Work Council organised two dedicated days on Monday 19 August and Thursday 22 August to get together and share a last moment together. He also said that it was a way of bringing everyone together and measuring with pride the extensive scale of the journey undertaken.

During these two days, employees were able to come to the Living Base Site and share a number of activities and moments of sport and enjoyableness.

A bingo activity particularly mobilised the workforce with gifts that were worth the seriousness that could be seen on the faces. The prizes included mobile phones, connected watches and gift vouchers.

Competitors and customers were able to meet up on the football and volleyball fields adjacent to the Living-Base Site for friendly matches, while others took advantage of the baby-foot and tennis tables in the Recreation Room.

Sarah GUERBER-CAHUZAC, as of the KNS Communications Department, proposed a related wheel game for the winning players to be rewarded with KNS goodies.

The Magik Miror NC Service Provider was also on board to offer everyone the chance to immortalise moments as a team or as a stunning pair. It was an essential part of the day, even for those who were reluctant to be taken in photos.

The service provider DJ Auguste and teams offered quality bingo entertainment, as well as spot karaoke performances. Admittedly, the shy volunteers didn’t push each other, but there’s no doubt that the crowd’s support for the bravest created a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

And on the second day, the whole crowd joined in for one last dance together. The emotions no doubt gripped everyone present. A last dance to say goodbye. Around thirty employees, both accomplished and those more or less hesitant, got together on the same dance floor to shake-dance to the same Madison rhythm. The rest of the crowd cheered them on and joined in with their whistles and applauds.  It was a festive atmosphere that reflected the dignity of the employees, who know that the future will be difficult, but New Caledonia is a country of warriors and pioneers, and it is together that we will bounce back.

Visits to the Plant and the Mine were also arranged, a way for the workforce to discover other facets of this site rich in history, and unique in its infrastructure with a mine, one of the longest conveyors in the world, a dedicated power station and a deep-water port.

During the visit to the mine, visitors were able to assess the enormous amount of cleaning work carried out by the teams.

While Jean-Christophe PONGA described the chemical requirements and the need to mix the ore to feed the plant, the most beautiful massif of Koniambo stretched majestically before the eyes of visitors over kilometres of mining space, as if to remind them of the treasures in its bowels. Trucks and shovels are now parked in the docks and dedicated areas.

SMSP, the majority and local shareholder of the Northern Plant, made the trip and is present with its communications team, and above all with its Chairman and CEO Karl THERBY.

Karl THERBY made sure to address the teams who attended the two-days event, underlining his admiration for the KNS workforce, which has consistently demonstrated the quality of the human resources at the North Plant over the past 6 months. He thanked all of them, including the subcontractors, who were the first to be impacted in February when the plant was shut down. He highlighted the strength, dignity and resilience of the employees, who have never ceased to protect their work tool. He also pointed out that the SMSP was pursuing its efforts with the groups that had shown an interest in the site with a view to resuming operations at a later date.

As Karl THERBY emphasised, he does not wish to ‘sell the dream’, but the project has emerged from the ground thanks to the will of the local population and all the stakeholders, and more than an economic and industrial tool, KNS is also the symbol of a bet on the future and on a peaceful upcoming mindset. He believes in the ability of the site and its employees to bounce back and build a future for tomorrow.

The SMSP Communications Team organised a quiz with questions on KNS history and organisation within the SMSP Group, giving employees the chance to win and be rewarded with SMSP and SNNC goodies.

These days were also an opportunity for the SMSP Group to recall the foundations of the Group’s History of the group including Koniambo Nickel.

While 31st August promises to mark the end of a whole era for many employees, they remain positive. Most of them are feeling ‘a twinge of sadness’ and ‘nostalgia’, but as some of them put it, ‘we still want to believe’ in a ‘tomorrow’, even if they are well aware that it won’t be soon.

In the meantime, the SMSP Group extends its sincere and warm thanks to the employees of Koniambo Nickel for these two days, and for these 20 years. The group is pursuing its undertakings and is dedicating all its efforts to the continued selection of a buyer.

We hope to see you all very soon!

The post ‘It’s a goodbye, not a farewell’ said SMSP’s CEO Karl THERBY first appeared on SMSP.

In view of the political exploitation of the Koniambo issue and as SMSP CEO, I would like to set the record straight and refute recent statements concerning the reasons behind Glencore’s decision to sell its stake in our joint subsidiary.

Neil MEADOWS, President of Koniambo Nickel, who knows the matter very well as he participated to the discussions in Paris, has already made it clear, in his statements on 28 February, that it was not the Northern Province’s refusal to open up the metallurgical reserves to export that was a factor in Glencore’s decision.

I have also participated, as SMSP shareholder representative, to the discussions during the week of negotiations in Paris that led to Glencore’s decision to sell its shares. As such, I am perfectly aware of what was the substance of our discussions.

SMSP is currently fully focused on the industrial and financial issues KNS has to face, like all operators in the market. However, as CEO of SMSP, it is my duty to protect our tool.

I therefore have legitimacy to refute the comments made by the Member of French Parliament METZDORF, who intends to convince New Caledonia’s populations, as well as the employees and subcontractors of Koniambo Nickel that if the NC Congress had voted to open up the metallurgical reserves, this would have persuaded Glencore to remain a shareholder in Koniambo Nickel.

As the President of Koniambo Nickel has already stated, and I confirm this, this point was never a factor in Glencore’s decision. It was never mentioned during the discussions in Paris.

As a reminder, the export of ore contained in NC metallurgical reserves is currently prohibited. Some people would like the law to be amended on this point, which would require a formal vote by Congress.

In addition, for everyone’s fair information and in order to bring closure to this matter, Koniambo Nickel and its infrastructure have the maximum capacity to release 700,000 tonnes of ore from the deposit, in addition to the quantities required for metallurgical production.

Following discussions  between Koniambo Nickel and SLN, the latest expressed its wish to buy 450 000 tons of  the above mentioned volume to feed Doniambo’s furnaces. These operations fitted perfectly in the current legal framework.

As such Koniambo Nickel has 250 000 tons of nickel ore that cannot be exported under current legislation regarding metallurgical reserves.

Who would seriously believe that the future of such a facility like Koniambo Nickel, and the massive investment it involves for New Caledonia, has been sealed over such a small quantity of ore that could not be exported?

This is absolute nonsense!!

As SMSP CEO, I would first and foremost like to protect Koniambo Nickel employees and subcontractors from this type of political stance and manipulation.

As previously stated, in these very challenging nickel market conditions, we need the strongest possible foundations to assist us in finding a new partner.

SMSP is committed to working hard for the safeguarding of this project and will always protect it against any groundless attacks it may be subjected to, now or in the future.

The post Statement on the reasons behind Glencore’s departure first appeared on SMSP.

Cohesion, warmth, sharing, commitment and environment are a few words that can sum up this Kouaoua Environment Day. Ludmilla VIRIAMU, in charge of animation at the Kouaoua City Hall, was thanked several times for the accurate organization set up which allowed the partners to share their know-how and creativity with pedagogy to children from kindergarten, elementary and secondary school.

Nearly 200 children from Kouaoua and Canala, invited for the occasion, were able to enjoy the workshops both at school building, mangrove and mining site.

All participants and children arrived on the elementary school site of Faja (Kouaoua) from 6:00 a.m. to set up classrooms and tents in front of the school. At 8:30 a.m., everyone was invited to gather in front of school for the opening speeches. The representatives of the City Hall, the Faja Elementary School and the Kouaoua and Canala’s Secondary schools gave speeches, highlighting the importance of the environment and its fundamental place in the present and the future of everyone. Two brave elementary school students shared environmental poems with confidence. Participants and children were then invited to enjoy an American-style breakfast offered by Kouaoua City Hall.

The NMC, Cotransmine and Koniambo Nickel team arrived on-site around 7:00 a.m. to set up and identify the locations and their colleagues of the day. A great opportunity for everyone to share with the other partners invited. Bringing togetehr know-how and the mobilization of existing and active actors are of no question regarding environmental actions, as reminded by the talks with the Association Ho-Üt, CIE and Environord members.

SMSP and its subsidiaries led two workshops:

• An information workshop was led in one of the classroom at the Faja school by Andy WRIGHT (Koniambo Nickel), Margaux LUSSIGNOL (NMC) and Sofia KONYI (NMC).

• A mine replant workshop led by the NMC team from Kouaoua and Noumea including Clarisse KAPARIN and her team, and Jonathan GONY. 70 plants of endemic species were planted by the 40 students. Few pictures to recall the main steps of this workshop.

Clarisse KAPARIN and her team welcomed and guided the children on their arrival at Sotramine site where the plantation was located.

Jonathan GONYled a safety quarter-hour, then a presentation of the species that were going to be planted, highlighting that Caledonia had 14 endemic species among the 20 species of arraucaria existing in the world. Then, with the children, he explained the steps for planting, the drilling having already been done by NMC’s usual partner, SIRAS.

From explanation to practice, children of 9^th and 10^th grade, and of elementary school (4^th & 5^th grade) did not wait long before grabbing the plants and getting into action. The supervisors themselves, Brandon, Ophélie (elementary school teacher) and Clarisse, as well as our driver, Nico, participated with enthusiasm and professionalism to ensure the safety and smooth running of the workshop.

A mangrove seedling planting workshop was also planned for the same group brought to Mine. However, for reasons of time, it was not possible to lead it. The Head of Cotransmine, Donald BEMARON, had prepared a dedicated area for planting. This is only a matter of time for him and SMSP who will continue its commitment alongside the City Hall and the Elementary School. The Director of the Elementary School, Julianna PONGA, has been working with her teaching team for some time now to launch activities related to environment. Thus, the children maintain an homemade seedling nursery and regularly carry out replanting activities, with complete autonomy. As such, a group went to the mangrove in the morning to follow-up with their plantation from previous workshop.

In parallel with the NMC-Koniambo nickel workshop, the other partners present and the teachers themselves held workshops on various topics within the Faja school and under the tents outside.

The Association of KIDAMS on the theme of the “Eco-Citizen Brigade” enchanted the youngest under the premise of the school.

The SVT teacher from Kouaoua College provided a Microscope workshop, an opportunity to discover the perspective of the infinitely small environment.

The Association Ho-Üt de Touho with its three members, Stéphane, Didier and Amaury, explained the process of plastic waste circulation, especially into the sea. The children could see the power of the ocean in that it always throws onto the beaches, our beaches, all that is carelessly thrown overboard.

EnviroNord and CIE provided outside information workshops that captivated children, but also often adults.

The morning of the workshop ended with a shared meal offered by the City Hall, the taste buds of the participants were served, to say the least.

The event was a success for SMSP Group and its subsidiaries, NMC, Cotransmine and Koniambo Nickel. We want to thank Koniambo Nickel for coming from far away to participate and for the goodies including Koniambo Nickel caps that the children wore the whole day after thhe workshop.

Also, SMSP Group would like to thank dearly Kouaoua City Hall and its team, and the schools who organized this event and allowed us to contribute.

The post 2nd Edition of Kouaoua Environment Day first appeared on SMSP.

At dawn on 28 November 2020, nearly 600 people congregated to the same point, e.i. Kouergoa Tribe and more precisely the road leading to the crash site to pay tribute in front of the hut erected, whose posts bear the victims’ names in the place called Chefao. The SMSP group staff, sometimes with their families, sometimes with their colleagues, but also the families of the victims as well as anonymous people have travelled from all over the island and even from the Loyalty Islands to mark the 20th anniversary of the commemoration of the missing persons of the SMSP Helicopter’s crash.

Indeed, on Monday 28 November 2000, 7 people, including the entire SMSP Management Staff were killed in a helicopter accident at the place called Chefao. The victims are: Raphaël PIDJOT CEO, Jean-Pierre LAPOUS Managing Director, Jean-Pierre GASTALDI Technical Director, Régis VIVIER Financial Director, Jean-Marc DALMASSO SMSP pilot; Pierre THOLLOT and Robert GARDINER two consultants of the Canadian Falconbridge Group.

Several families of the victims were present, including members of PIDJOT, GASTALDI and VIVIER Families. In addition, the two NC1ère journalists sent on site were respectively PIDJOT Nephew and LAPOUS niece. Their presence at all honored the program put in place by the event’s organizers.

Hands in hands, the Kouergoa Tribal Association along with the Widjè Committee 28 November, which made up of all the SMSP Group subsidiaries’ staff of NMC, KNS, SNNC and Cotransmine, are working hard to undertake structural works in order to welcome in good conditions the families, SMSP staff members and the public in general.

A large meal to which the families of the victims were invited brought together all the participants.

In addition, the Kouergoa Tribe offered two large cakes to commemorate 20 years of commemoration dedicated to the families and participants of the event.

Romuald PIDJOT, the late Raphaël PIDJOT’s eldest son, expressed his appreciation for the organizational work carried out by the Widjè Committee 28 November in conjunction with the Kouergoa Tribe Association. “It is a very good organization in terms of logistics, transport with the shuttle system. I thank the tribe and the SMSP staff for this great job. What I found great is especially the presence of so many young people who, in my opinion, were not born at the time of the crash, but who are coming on pilgrimage today, like us. Somehow it is a mark of attachment to the visions of economic development embodied by our deceased.”

Edwige VIVIER, the late Régis VIVIER’s eldest daughter “Thank you very much for this day. We really had a good time and appreciated your gesture as well as all the support of the tribe and the Organizing Committee for this commemoration and the structural works, such as on the issue of water“.

Sarah MANZANARES, Coordinator of the Widjè Committee, expresses her satisfaction with the way this day unfolded: “With all humility and respect, I hereby wish to once again thank the association and the tribe for welcoming us all during the past 20 years; and to thank each of the Committee Members, the group employees and collaborators who volunteered to work towards the great success of this magnificent sharing day.

This day as always, is a great moment of emotion which gathers all together through this annual pilgrimage to pay tribute to our founding fathers. We are pursuing the works started, and it is indeed a common achievement of each woman, man, from all walks of life whose reflection is a magnificent rainbow that has made the commemoration a success.

We have already set up the date of our first meeting in 2021 in order to examine and talk about the future activities.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best and a happy holiday season.”

As for Karl THERBY, SMSP’s Managing Director: “First of all, I would like to thank, on behalf of SMSP, all the members of the families of the deceased, present with us during this day of commemoration and recollection. Thank you also to all the participants who came in large numbers to pay tribute to these men of courage and conviction who left too soon. Finally, I would like to congratulate and thank all the members of the Widjè 28 November Committee, those of the Kouergoa Tribe Association as well as those of all the staff of SMSP’s subsidiaries of the NMC group, KNS and Cotransmine as well as SNNC. All these employees who dedicated their time to make this day a huge success with the aim of honoring the memory of these men and pursuing their dream. All this is the strength of our Group.”

The post They departed 20 years ago first appeared on SMSP.

Seven people died, including the SMSP staff: Raphaël PIDJOT SMSP CEO, Jean-Pierre LAPOUS SMSP Managing Director, Jean-Pierre GASTALDI SMSP Technical Director, Régis VIVIER SMSP Financial Director, Jean-Marc DALMASSO SMSP Pilot; Pierre THOLLOT and Robert GARDINER of Falconbridge. A tragic loss as the project is still in its infancy.

20 years later, the crash is still remembered. Above all, the group’s employees do not forget, and are keen to perpetuate what is for them more than a duty: it is part of the energy and vision that drive them on a daily basis in their work.

So for the 20 years of the commemoration, the group and its subsidiaries have set up the WIDJÈ Committee, November 28 and with the Widjè Association of the Kouergoa tribe, are organizing this moment of contemplation with particular and intense attention.

We met Alphonse WENENINA, member of the WIDJÈ Committee, November 28 and Koniambo Nickel employee. He initiated a musical project in memory of those who have left and for the attentive ears of those who remain. They recorded on Saturday, October 24, 4 songs. The CD was released on Thursday, November 19.

Meeting with Alphonse WENENINA – Pilot of the initiative.
“Even if it’s all alone but I’m going.”

Alphonse entered the Vavouto site (Koniambo Nickel) in 2009 for a subcontractor and joined Koniambo Nickel in 2014. He learned the history of the company and of this tragic crash. He is touched, concerned and has participated in the commemorations every year.

This year, when he joined the WIDJÈ Committee, November 28, he offered members an idea, the production of a piece of music for the commemoration. Songwriter, music is part of Alphonse’s daily life. Without making any promises, he toured his musical entourage, other musicians, singers, composers and quickly found his team, and in particular Jeanne WAIMO, working at SMSP since 2019. The idea became a project!

The Project – What is it?

With some emotion, Alphonse explains the wish to perform a song. But these are ultimately 4 songs that emerge within the project, each have a special meaning.

The group and the organization

The initiative brings together around 20 artists, songwriters, but also support around the production of these pieces.

If the idea was born at the beginning of the year, it is put on the table during the first meeting of the WIDJÈ Committee, November 28 of the SMSP group. And the first lyrics are written down in August, while bringing together the other tracks and the artists.

Organization and time devoted to weekends, days off and free time. An investment that lives up to the vision that is being carried, that of those who have come before.

“28 novembre”

Written in 2013 at Kawipa by the NMC Kouaoua site, it was readily “donated” by the employees in order to contribute to the 2020 project. We find the solidarity of the group’s employees and the common feeling of beeing concerned.

“Widjè”

This is the name of the Association that annually organizes the commemoration within the Kouergoa tribe, but it is much more. “Widjè” in the Xârâcùù language means “Why”, and for Alphonse, this meaning had a particular resonance. Written with Ludovic LEVY, Alphonse explains: “When we started to write the song, this “why” challenged us. Why this crash, why these men, why this place? etc”. He also explains that the place called “Chefao” where the crash occurred means “the place from which the iron is pulled”. For him it is obvious, it is the place from which we draw strength. It is therefore both a place of contemplationbut also a place of rebirth, a place to recharge.

And this song is also a symbol of diversity, several styles have been mixed: the kaneka of the Islands, the kaneka of the North (the 4 stroke) and the new style of kaneka that the North has created (Djareb).

The meaning of the project: Work and live together

“We created this small collective of country artists, it was to follow this vision of Raphaël PIDJOT who showed us from the start that we could work together. Our big brothers, like Miguel Ate, often remind us: whatever our colors, we are children of the country, we have to work together and live together. And Raphaël’s team, the one that fell in Kouergoa, it was these values of working and living together that they carried: there was a Kanak, a Javanese, a white etc. Today, we are still looking for each other, there are examples in front of us but we do not see them. We do not take a step back. And this moment for the 20 years of the crash is precisely the moment to remember that vision.”

“Moi je suis”

Written by Numa HENESEWEN, this song is about our way of being to look at the horizon, often forgetting the essential, our roots. Through music, it is about reminding ourselves that we are here on earth, in our individuality, but we need the other to exist. The words at the end “I am you and you are me” is a call to walk together.

“Raphaël”

From LEXIS. The original song was written in 2000 in memory of Raphaël PIDJOT precisely. It was picked up and adapted by the group of Alphonse.

Group members and supporters

• Jacob POAMENO aka Ako
• Ingrid WAMYTAN (AUCHER)
• Kaïnda WHAAP aka Jeff
• Jeanne WAIMO (HUE)
• Geoffrey UNË
• Bryan WAMALO (we had the songs, the melodies) – Create the support, put on audio and send them. Musician. Where Alphonse is a songwriter – He sent the first draft of the technical part.
• Jessica OUTHEMECK
• Kameango UNË
• Düi
• The other members and supporters of the group carry this vision: Williams WELEPANE, Ismaël DOUNEZECK, Albert KAKUE, Johan UJICAS, Bryan WAMALO, Miguel WAMALO and many more …

The daily work of the employees of all the subsidiaries is of course punctuated by the achievement of objectives and the completion of the required work. But it seems important on the occasion of this commemoration to remember that our efforts come to continue a work done before, and as Alphonse indicates, in a place “for which people have fallen”.

Returning to Kouergoa every year is a duty of remembrance but it is also a moment of sharing and allowing everyone to find their answer to the “why” that everyone may ask.

Alphonse insists: “We all have our place, as children of the country; and over there, it’s a time for everyone to find their place”.

We invite all employees of SMSP, NMC, SNNC, Cotransmine and Koniambo Nickel to contact their entreprise councils to find out how to register for the commemoration event. Shuttles will be set up to allow you to reach the place.

The Widjè Association and the Kouergoa tribe, which have an indescribable and family bond with the SMSP group and its subsidiaries, will welcome you on November 28th to the tribe before joining the place called Chefao.

The post Music to commemorate and recall the vision first appeared on SMSP.

For ten months, under the direction of Tim O’CONNELES the Reconstruction Project Manager, the furnace 2 works took place on time, and according to a precise calendar including different stages as appeared on the diagram below:

“It’s a great pride for us and for Koniambo. This achievement proves that despite all the problems we encountered, we are able to meet big challenges. What a happiness for us seeing these two ovens casting”, says Jean-Pierre WADRA Trainer of casting operators, in front of NC1ère TV camera. As for Helen WARU, she wanted to pay tribute to former colleagues declaring, “this achievement is especially for them, because they left so that we can twitch the furnace 2. It is a success not only for us but also for them.” These three years of doubt have certainly welded the employees who proved their attachment to this Northern Plant, which is their working tool but also symbol of the country’s economic rebalancing. Note that the first metal casting was provided by the color, Nicolas VULAN, under the supervision that day of Rachel SINYEUE.

The repair of the furnace 2 follows the accident that occurred on December 26, 2014 on furnace 1. The evaluation report has identified errors in the furnance maintenance and in the applied quality control. Decision was therefore taken to begin the modification works of furnace 1 at first stage, put it into service and operate it to demonstrate its reliability. At the end of this phase, end of 2016, green light was given by Glencore to finance the refractory bricks replacement works of this second kiln.

According to SMSP CEO, “the commissioning of the furnace 2 is a highly anticipated event. It ends a period of uncertainty and doubt, and we can all rejoice. I congratulate all Koniambo Nickel employees for their hard work. I want to encourage them as they embark today on a two-line production phase in order to reach the set production targets.”

Now that both furnaces operate, the Northern Plant’s aim is to produce yearly between 54,000 and 60,000 tons.

The post With the first casting of furnace 2, KNS will now carry on its ramp up first appeared on SMSP.