“The instability in New Caledonia, which the State has not properly measured, represents a boon for certain countries” | EUROtoday

SNicknamed “the Pebble”, New Caledonia holds almost 15% of the world’s nickel reserves. Within the V^e A Republic, it additionally advantages from a singular scenario, sui generisensuing from the Nouméa Agreement of May 5, 1998. This strategy of decolonization with out independence, in line with its initiator Prime Minister Michel Rocard [1988-1991], allowed broad autonomy for the island and was to steer by referendums, because the Agreement says, “to full sovereignty”, in a brand new consensual standing, twenty-four years later. However, if it revered the Nouméa Accord to the letter, the referendum – boycotted in 2021 by the separatists – made its spirit out of date.

Added to this political disaster is the imbalance within the financial mannequin, masked till now by the contribution of huge monetary flows from personal investments in metallurgical factories and state interventions. In the absence of latest transfers, this method is at this time on the breaking point. The metals disaster, linked to the power transition, has pushed the enormous Glencore, key shareholder of Koniambo Nickel SAS, to place its manufacturing facility within the north of the island on maintain, pending a hypothetical purchaser. In the South, the disengagement introduced by the CEO of Eramet, Christel Bories, from the SLN plant in Doniambo and the orphan mission of Prony Ressources NC – which has simply obtained a money credit score from the State to carry out till on the finish of the yr – start their sluggish agonies. The stagnation of those three firms threatens native metallurgy and finally poses a danger of deindustrialization for Caillou

However, the nickel trade represents an amazing share of New Caledonia's commerce stability, which is in critical deficit. Its function all through the territory in direct and oblique employment, excluding administration, is dominant, a lot in order that its influence on GDP represents virtually 20% in worth. With this a part of financial exercise at a standstill, your entire native system is seized up, with the consequence of the insolvency of unemployment, well being and retirement insurance coverage funds, but additionally that of native authorities.

This additionally considerations the New Caledonia neighborhood, whose institutional group gave it the improper function: to gather taxes and distribute the income primarily to the provinces. The latter haven’t any drawback spending them lavishly, making it attainable to ascertain monetary energy coupled with broad and diverse abilities given inside the framework of the natural regulation of 1999 (corresponding to environmental safety, financial growth and specifically administration). mining assets, the attribution of mining titles, and so forth.).

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