n extra month to the company he loves so much. Didier is not really leaving our Group, as he will be appointed to the NMC Board of Directors as of December 1.

We would like to warmly and humbly thank Didier VENTURA for his commitment and invaluable contribution, particularly in managing the critical period that NMC is currently experiencing.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Ali NEMOUCHI to replace him, effective December 1st.

From now until November 30, Didier VENTURA will introduce Ali NEMOUCHI to the NMC teams, and help him to familiarize himself with the field and operations.

A trained mining engineer and holder of an EMBA in strategy and leadership from HEC Paris, Ali NEMOUCHI brings 30 years’ solid experience in corporate strategy and management, as well as in-depth knowledge of the mining sector.

A Multi-talented, he has also specialized in transport law and energy technologies, particularly in recent years. Until recently, as head of his own consulting firm, he helped New Caledonian companies transform their business models, particularly in the energy sector and hydrogen projects.

We reiterate our sincere thanks to Didier VENTURA and welcome Ali NEMOUCHI, and count on each and every one of you within the Group to welcome Ali and support him in his new responsibilities.

The post Ali NEMOUCHI is NMC’s new President first appeared on SMSP.

Offered by our subsidiary in Korea, this bus shelter is the first one of the 4 equipments that will be installed in the municipalities where our other affiliate, Nickel Mining Company (NMC), operates its mining centres.

The emergence of the SMSP/POSCO partnership

Five years after its repurchase in 1995, SMSP was one of the leading exporters of nickel ore in the world.

For the leaders of this period, it was however only one step in the development of this exhaustible local resource. They were aware of the the unsteadiness of the nickel market and the importance of optimizing the profitability of this green gold.

It is therefore necessary to extend the existing mining activity with a further industrial activity by including the processing of metal in the group’s development strategy, as this is the only operation generating any additional value out of the ore.

This lead to the creation of two joint companies, the mining company NMC and the metallurgical company SNNC, both 51% owned by SMSP and 49% by POSCO, a Korean group dedicated to steel production.

Thus the extractive assets become the essential economic prerequisite for the launching of industrial projects, generating further development.

An international industrial partnership for the sustainable development of New Caledonia

In 2005, André DANG, the SMSP’s President, and Paul NEAOUTYINE, the North Province’s President, travelled to South Korea to conclude a partnership with the world’s leading steel producer at such time, the Korean POSCO Company. Three years later, in October 2008, SNNC celebrated the opening of its first production line with a capacity of 30,000 tons of ferro-nickel. In March 2015, SNNC successfully expanded its second production line to 54,000 tons of ferro-nickel.

Diversification in 2022 driven by the electric vehicle battery market trend

In July 2021, SMSP and its Korean partner continue to optimize the added value of the Caledonian ore and sign an agreement to spearhead the diversification of SNNC’s operations by authorizing the latter to invest in the production of nickel mattes dedicated to the manufacture of electric car batteries. The SMSP Group is thus positioning itself on this high potential market as many States are regulating and prohibiting, in the mid-term, the use of petrol driven vehicles.

The SNNC president, Jun-Hyung KIM and his collaborators are in charge of the follow-up and supervision of the construction works of this matte production unit, which started in June 2022. The construction of this facility will be completed in the second half of 2023 and the ramp-up will take place in the first half of 2024. SNNC’s ambition is to deliver 26,000 tons of ferronickel and 21,000 tons of matte annually to POSCO.

Key figures and cumulative performance for both mining and metallurgy after 10 years of operation

Thus, after 10 years of operation, from 2009 to 2018, the SMSP/POSCO partnership has generated:

• for the NMC, ore producer, a cumulative turnover of 114.6 billion XPF
• for the SNNC, producer of ferronickel, a accumulated turnover of XPF 411 billion.

SNNC generated dividends of nearly 22 billion XPF over this period, 51% of which were allocated to SMSP.

First economic spin-offs in New Caledonia

Between 2015 and 2016, in the midst of the mining crisis, NMC was able to renew and modernize its mining infrastructure thanks to a financial investment of 17 billion XPF which was guaranteed under the SNNC agreement.

NMC – SNNC: Sharing skills and mutual support

Within the framework of the joint venture agreements between SMSP and POSCO, it is foreseen that each of them appoints its representatives within the two JVs. The companies are therefore steered by management boards equally composed of 6 members appointed by each shareholder.

In 2020, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the tragic death of some SMSP managers (including the emblematic Raphael PIDJOT) in a helicopter accident, SNNC decided to get involved in the actions of the SMSP group and its subsidiaries in New Caledonia.

Thus, SNNC has made a major financial contribution to the Widjè Committee, in charge of the organization of the 28 November commemoration.

A symbolic gesture for the organization of this important day in the history of the SMSP group.

Since then, the exchanges continue and SNNC shows its willingness to share with New Caledonia additional economic benefits, which are already largely effective through the return of dividends.

Thus, SNNC, and particularly its Citizenship Department, contributes financially and socially to all the SMSP group’s events: the International Women’s Rights Day on March 8, the annual SMSP Trails, the “Orange the World” campaigns against violence against women, the Ouaco Heritage Day as well as the commemoration day on November 28.

In addition to these events, SNNC is a direct contributor through the SMSP to local events such as the VKPéenne, the Ecomobility week, the Women’s Day at the Customary Senate organized in 2022, on the occasion of which goodies were handed out.

Bus shelters: a further step

In 2022, the President of SNNC, Jun-Hyung KIM and his Vice-President Robert WAMINYA, announced their wish to donate 4 bus shelters financed by SNNC and allocated to 4 cities located in the Northern Province.

The choice of location was logically made in the townships where NMC is operating its mining activity and in Koné, the capital of the North Province, our reference shareholder.

These robust infrastructures (manufactured out of Caledonian nickel) were assembled in October 2022.

On October 6th, all the partners, SNNC, NMC and SMSP participated in the inauguration of the very first SNNC bus shelter installed in New Caledonia in the town hall of Poya.

The installations will continue in the other townships over the next few weeks to the enjoyment of the travelers and residents of these towns.

SMSP, NMC and SNNC: a partnership for the upgrading of New Caledonian ore with a number of economic impacts.

The post SNNC: the SMSP Group’s Caledonian Offshore Plant first appeared on SMSP.

A New Caledonian delegation made the journey to participate in the celebration of this event. It is consisted of: Paul Néaoutyine, the Northern Province Assembly’s President; André Dang, SMSP Chief Executive Officer; Didier Ventura, NMC President; Karl Therby, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Sofinor Group; Ulrich Reber, Project Director Sofinor and Gwenaëlle Fontaine, Head of Department of Control Management and Operational Performance NMC.

The New Caledonian Delegation was welcomed by Mr. Han Sung Hee, POSCO’s Vice President, who, on behalf of his company, has thanked Paul Néaoutyine and André Dang of their initiative in 2005, to meet and suggest this present partnership, which has allowed to give birth to the Gwangyang Plant.

An opportunity for both parties to recall and reaffirm their excellent trust relationships, entertained over past ten years, and to express their desire to see the strengthening and consolidation of these links in the years to come. Paul Néaoutyine declares: “Building and operating a metallurgical plant project was a huge engagement and a real bet on future. It was difficult to proceed without assurance of mutual trust between the two partners. These good understanding and close relationships have played a key role in the SNNC Plant excellent performance to date. ”

Indeed, the factory operated by SNNC subsidiary is one of the world most competitive plants. Since it went into production in 2008, SNNC has made a profit of 25.5 billion XPF of which 19 billion XPF were distributed, out of which 9.7 billion (XPF) to SMSP. As of 31^st December 2017, SNNC employed 263 employees and workers. Based on its financial results and profitability reports, SNNC undertook expansion works, inaugurated in 2015, upgrading its annual production capacity to 54,000 tons of nickel metal. The plant anticipates a production volume of 48,000 tons in 2018.

The New Caledonian Delegation also visited and met with the factory staff. On this occasion, Paul Néaoutyine and André Dang wanted to thank the management and the workers for the plant’s effective performance while assuring them of their full support to the plant on-going and future developments.

The post SNNC turns 10 first appeared on SMSP.

All communications, memorandum or other resource materials are in French. My French knowledge was limited to two words Bonjour (Hello) and Merci (thank you).” Gun therefore did everything possible to learn, to digest and to absorb French vocabularies, grammar and conjugation rules, in order to master the language, facilitating his professional relationships as well as his communication with all his other colleagues.

Beyond his language training, he had to also integrate the Franco-Caledonian culture, totally new to him, compared to his Korean Culture, both in the design of processes or methodologies as well as in social and professional operated rules. “What I appreciate particularly the Caledonian Culture: it is this sense of respect, which is conducive to a friendly and peaceful working atmosphere.”

“I am very pleased with my stay in New Caledonia, even though it was short one. I am very fond of my team members. With them we were able to provide answers to some organizational and financial management issues. “During a small farewell party, that gathered twenty colleagues and close associates, Gwenaëlle FONTAINE, who is the New Management Control Director, thanked Gun for two years she spent with him. “With Gun we have established not only an operating budget but also a cost-control system that allows the company to have a more accurate picture on its day to day operational situation. “As for Guillaume EGINARD, one of his teammates, he described this path with Gun as “very constructive and very pleasant.”

Gun arrived in 2013 with his wife Ji-Yoon HONG and his two daughters Honny and Yenah KIM who are enrolled in Noumea International James Cook School. Honny is in college in Year 8 while Yenah is in Elementary Course and both are trilingual (French, English and Korean). “Although this end of functions was planned with precise dates of arrival and departure, my two daughters are sad. And my wife already considers our return to Korea as a new life Ah! Ah! Ah”, says Gun, hardly hiding a note of sadness in his voice for his relatives.

Just before boarding the plane, Gun sends a goodbye note to all. “Time runs always too fast. I leave permanently for Korea tomorrow morning. Thanks to your support and to your help, I was able to perform my duties till date. In addition, I now speak French and all experiences gained here, are a solid foundation for my future responsibilities and functions. It’s really an honor for me to work with you all! I will miss New Caledonia a lot.”

Upon his return to Korea Gun will join the famous “POSCO Planning and Strategic Department” as Deputy General Manager.

Let us all greet Gun and his family, thank him for his time and assistance to NMC, and wish him “good luck” in his new duties.

The post Goodbye Gun! first appeared on SMSP.

The post Opening ceremony of SNNC’s second production line first appeared on SMSP.

Following the validation of the technical feasibility study, the execution and financing plans, the partners SMSP and POSCO sign the agreement on the expansion of the ferronickel production unit. The production unit in Gwangyang, with an annual nominal capacity of 30,000 tons of nickel metal contained in ferronickel, will increase its capacity of 24,000 additional tons, that is to say a total capacity of 54,000 tons per annum. A second line comprising a new dedicated nickel ore berth with a conveyor belt, a storage and ore preparation area, a second dryer, a third rotary kiln and a second electric furnace, is being built on SNNC site à Gwangyang. In New Caledonia, NMC mines that have reached an annual production capacity of 1.8 million tons of saprolite ore will double production. By leaning available mining resource, made of low grade ore that cannot be locally processed, to a performing industrial unit, SMSP and POSCO optimise it and ensure jobs creation in New Caledonia. An important strategic decision for the country’s benefit.

The post Signing of the Gwangyang plant expansion first appeared on SMSP.

The 17th SMSP/POSCO/NMC/SNNC Technical and Financial Committee was held in Noumea from 4th to 6th December 2012. On the agenda of the Technical Committee was found the ore’s quality, granulometry, demurrage outcomes and the annual program of production vessels. The Financial Committee has meanwhile, dealt with fundamental issues such as business plan of NMC and SNNC.

The post The 17th SMSP/POSCO/NMC/SNNC Technical and Financial Committee first appeared on SMSP.

First visit for Kim Joonsik, Senior Executive Vice President of POSCO, in charge of the stainless steel division. The same elected Members of the Northern Province who visited Korea in June, welcomed the delegation to the traditional hut. The delegation was then invited to sit in the premises of the Assembly in order to discover the Northern Province in its operation as well as its geography, demography or economy. Finally, the delegation has visited the Ouazanghou mine.

The post Visit of a POSCO delegation in the North first appeared on SMSP.

The 16th SMSP/POSCO/NMC/SNNC Technical and Financial Committee was held in Gwangyang from 6th to 10th August 2012. The committee was divided into two groups: the Technical Committee for the analysis of production data and the Financial Committee for the analysis of accounting and financial operations of SNNC. SNNC and POSCO teams presented the plant production’s results and operations of unloading ore.

The post The 16th SMSP/POSCO/NMC/SNNC Technical and Financial Committee first appeared on SMSP.

A delegation of 26 persons of the Northern Province and SMSP’s Assembly including the President Paul Néaoutyine and André Dang, went to Gwangyang and Seoul from 25th to 30th June. It was an opportunity for the elected representatives of the Northern Province, particularly those from the new term, to discover POSCO industrial complex and to finally see the ferronickel processing plant owned 51% by SMSP. Elected representatives were able to familiarize themselves with the technical implementation and the effectiveness of the production chain of ferronickel.

The post Visit of the Gwangyang Plant by the Northern Province elected representatives first appeared on SMSP.