New Caledonia agrees to Vale nickel mine sale, Tesla to be partner
PARIS - Political leaders in New Caledonia on Thursday agreed new terms for the sale of Vale's nickel business, including a majority stakeholding for local interests, seeking to resolve unrest over the planned sale.
The deal signed by pro-independence and loyalist leaders in
the French Pacific territory also cited a "technical and industrial
partnership" with Tesla, under which the electric car company would source
raw materials for batteries.
Brazilian miner Vale's decision last year to sell its nickel
mine and processing plant to a consortium including Swiss commodity trader
Trafigura sparked fierce opposition from pro-independence groups.
Violent protests led Vale to shut down the site in December.
Under Thursday's agreement, political groups proposed that a
51% stake in the Vale operations be held by New Caledonia's provincial
authorities and other local interests. Trafigura would have a 19% stake, less
than the 25% planned in the initial sale deal with Vale.
The parties also called for reinforced environmental
standards and set a target for the mining complex to be carbon neutral by 2040.
Vale and Trafigura welcomed the political agreement.
"Our task now is to complete any and all outstanding
items to allow the transaction to formally conclude," Vale said in an
emailed statement.
The company, which has tried to sell the New Caledonian
assets for years, has said around 3,000 direct and indirect jobs depend on the
restart of its mining complex.
"We're looking forward to operations resuming and for
final completion of the transaction as soon as possible," a Trafigura
spokesperson said.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The electric vehicle maker would act as an industrial
partner to help with product and sustainability standards as well as taking
some supply for its battery production, according to the political agreement.
Demand for nickel, mainly used in making stainless steel, is
expected to be boosted by demand for electric vehicle batteries.
New Caledonia is the world's fourth-largest nickel producer.
Its nickel industry also includes the SLN subsidiary of French mining group
Eramet and a joint venture between commodity group Glencore and New Caledonia's
northern province.
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