Several appointments were scheduled, including the meeting with Chinese Government Officials, in-charge of the Yangzhou City economic development. For this purpose, their interlocutors were able to affirm the Chinese Government support to the new SMSP/Yichuan Partnership which, according to them, will contribute to this district economic development. Paul Néoutyine also visited the metallurgical plant’s site and met with Yichuan main shareholders and SMSP’s new economic partners. The opportunity for both parties to agree on the priority actions to be undertaken for the implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which followed the signature Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on October 18, 2017.

Let us recall that event on 22^nd March in Noumea, SMSP represented by CEO André Dang and the Chinese Yangzhou Yichuan Nickel Industry Co Ltd, represented by its CEO Zhang Jianguo, proceeded to the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement stating the main lines of a partnership project. This association enables SMSP to hold a 51% majority stake in a pyro-metallurgical plant located in Yangzhou City, in People’s Republic of China.

The plant owns a production line with an annual production capacity of 5 to 6,000 tonnes of metal nickel. The finished products are nowadays sold to stainless steel producers in China, including China POSCO.

As a result of this Agreement, SMSP, through its NMC mining branch, can supply 600,000 tonnes of ores at the market value, with a minimum contain between 1.40% and 1.80% Ni. That is to say an ore with an average grade of 1.65% Ni. The lower average loading rate allows SMSP and its mining NMC Branch not only to process an ore that has not been so far treated locally, but also extending its old mines lifespan and stabilizing and securing NC mining sector’s jobs.

In application of the MOA terms and conditions, SMSP had to proceed this year to the ore supply of its plant in Chin, at a rate of a vessel per month. To this end, the ore carrier Kiran Caribbean left Téoudié Port Monday 23th July last week, with on board, a first shipment of 62,000 tonnes of New Caledonian ore intended for China.

This project currently offers additional commercial outlet for all New Caledonian mining stakeholders.

The post President Paul Néaoutyine visits China 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.

Established in September 1990, Sofinor is a semi-public company and the economic tool which has enabled the Northern Province to repurchase SMSP Company. Sofinor is owned by the Northern Province with 85% shares while 15% are owned by four SAEML including Sud minier, côte océanienne, Grand Nord et espaces de l’Ouest. In December 2013, the Provincial Councilors voted in favor of a reorganization of Sofinor, which is now dedicated solely to mining and metallurgy pole. This would enable the Northern Province to maximize the economic returns and wealth generated by mining operations. Meanwhile, a new entity was set up, SAEML Nord Avenir, has to be in charge of the economic diversification pole and ensuring the support of eventual economic development initiatives and process.

The post Re-structuring of Sofinor first appeared on SMSP.

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

In front of more than 300 invited officials and the plant personnel, the President of the French Republic proceeded over the official inauguration of the Northern plant, recalling the commitment and support of the State to this vital industrial project and its economic re-stabilization. On this occasion, the President recalled the reasons of the State’s support for this vital project and its economic re-stabilization. “KNS is a development tool for empowerment” while describing the Northern plant as “one of the most ecological and integrated” in the world.

Paul Néaoutyine, at his turn, extended his thanks to the State for its continued support and to the customary authorities of Voh for the access to Vavouto site. He also congratulated the two development partners, particularly André Dang Van Nha and Ivan Glasenberg for this exemplary and successful partnership and the project realization, as well as KNS employees and its President, Peter Hancock. Moreover, he dedicated this inauguration “to all participants, whether they are here or not, and without exception, who contributed directly or indirectly to the achievement of this plant that has become a reality for the many future generations of New Caledonians (or citizens of New Caledonia).

For his part, André Dang Van Nha, stated that “the inauguration of this mining and metallurgical complex of the Northern plant is the result of a dream made real for all of those who joined together to obtain the necessary mineral resources for the achievement of the project”. While declaring “his great honour to have the presence of the President of France at this occasion”, he emphasized the unfailing support of the State, as the “fulfilment of an industrial success” that makes all Caledonians proud.

As for Ivan Glasenberg, he emphasized that “this inauguration marks an important step for our Caledonian operations and the country’s nickel industry. We are impatiently waiting to further pursue our well established collaborations with the community, local government and our partner for the increase in power and the attainment of the nominal capacity of 60,000 tons of nickel metal per year”.

Peter Hancock declared that “Koniambo Nickel is not just any dream!” Because it’s about producing nickel in the Northern Province with respect for the environment, and local cultures, and in favour of economic sustainable development.” He explained that “KNS was a dream that proposed more than just a single construction project” and described a realization based on “the rest for the given words, the commitment of a massif, that of Koniambo, local knowledge and capacity, commitment and support of SMSP and of its President André Dang Van Nha”. He emphasized the dedication of technical expertise and in particular, the essential financing for the construction and exploitation from successively Falconbridge, Xstrata and today Glencore, all honoured the commitment, while giving thanks to the CEO Ivan Glasenberg for his personal engagement.

The post The official inauguration of Koniambo Nickel first appeared on SMSP.

Extract of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault’s speech at the New Caledonia Congress

“Conscious of their responsibility towards history, Michel Rocard, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and Jacques Lafleur were able to find the valuable gestures and the right path leading to reconciliation, in order to lay down the foundations of this common destiny. It is our turn, in the next few years, to measure our responsibilities towards the Caledonians and the French, and take appropriate decisions towards this invaluable heritage.

For the progress achieved since 1988, are huge and even more, since the Noumea Accord.

This agreement, you experience it every day. It has established New Caledonia’s current institutions. It has laid down the principles favoring the process of emancipation.

I will be able to observe this tomorrow, when visiting the Koniambo nickel’s plant. This is a genuine industrial success and we can congratulate all those who have contributed to the task: workers, Caledonians and foreigners, executives, often recruited and trained locally and of course KNS management and directors.

This is above all a great political achievement! The signatories of the Noumea Accord, and they are numerous here among us, surrounding Lionel Jospin, had decided to devote significant efforts to the country’s economic rebalancing.”

The post The French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault visited the Northern Plant first appeared on SMSP.

André DANG’s speech

The post Celebration of the Northern Plant’s first nickel tapping first appeared on SMSP.

The Overseas Minister went to Koné on November 25, 2012 and visited the Northern Plant. He was accompanied by a delegation comprising the President of the Northern Province Paul Néaoutyine and the elected members, the High Commissioner Albert Dupuy, the Member of Parliement Sonia Lagarde, the Senate President Luc Wema, the Congress President Gérard Poadja, Anne Duthilleul, General Parlanti and the CEO of SMSP, André Dang.

The post Visit of Victorin Lurel at Vavouto 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.

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.