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Information in: Español - Français - Deutsch - Português - Russian - Japanese - Svenska - Italiano - Suomi |
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Kanaky/ New CaledoniaDid you know?Kanaky,
or New Caledonia, a country under French rule in the Southwestern
Pacific, is one of the most unusual biodiversity hotspots on earth.
A remnant of ancient Gondwanaland, the main island, La Grand Terre,
separated from Australia some 85 million years ago and has existed in
isolation from other land masses, surrounded by deep ocean trenches.
Kanaky has sometimes been called the "El Dorado of Nickel" by the international mining community. However, international nickel prices have not been stable and civil unrest appears to be on the increase locally. Under conditions of clear political and commercial risk, it is likely that transnational mining companies and their investment partners are seeking methods of shifting the risk burden to the public sector, especially through the utilization of various forms of public finance and political risk insurance from ECAs in their countries of origin. [Read entire article]
* Important Background Documents on Kanaky
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| BEFORE AND AFTER: Inco's nickel and cobalt mining operations in New Caledonia (Kanaky), a frequent client of the French ECA COFACE, has sparked criticism by international, indiginous, and environmental NGOs and communities. |
New Caledonia chiefs speak out about nickel mining concerns Aug. 17, 2005 From Radio Australia.
CONTROVERSIAL NICKEL MINE SHUT DOWN PENDING REVIEW - Indigenous Leaders, Environmentalists, Financial Analysts Raise Environmental Concerns And Questions About Inco's Corporate Credibility December 9, 2002
For more information, contact the ECA Watch Facilitator.
Environmental Defense, Stephanie Fried - www.environmentaldefense.org
Friends of the Earth - France (Amis de la Terre) - www.amisdelaterre.org
Photo Credit: Anonymous