Inco, a Canada-based mining company, has closed its Goro Nickel mine in New Caledonia for a financial review. Inco is one of seven international nickel mining companies with projects in New Caledonia. The indigenous Kanaks – who make up 47% of the country’s population - have long denounced Inco’s mining activities, which have had significant impact on the environment and Kanak society and culture in recent years. The Kanaks were promised benefits, roads, and employment, but they claim they still have not received any benefits from mining and industrial exploitation on their lands.
The Goro Nickel Project was launched in 2001. Inco proposed that “the Goro Project would exert minimal impact on the environment. Instead of marine tailings disposal, it would use a more expensive but environmentally preferable land disposal system.” (From Inco’s website: www.inco.com) Despite such vague promises, the mining project has devastated the local environment. Watchdog groups say that from the beginning, Inco’s activities have violated national laws protecting the rights and interests of Kanaks.
The Kanaks have been deeply affected by the Goro nickel mining activities because the project falls squarely within their lands. Kanak leaders have called upon Inco to open negotiations concerning the future of the mining project. Raphael Mapou, an indigenous delegate, said that the project would not proceed without indigenous cooperation. Although the Inco project has been halted for the time being, it was done without any consideration for local workers and without a future clean-up plan. Kanak leaders have proposed building an alternative nickel plant at Goro in the south of New Caledonia, but they have not received any response from Inco. A decision concerning the future of the Goro nickel plant is expected from the company next month.
