While a key element of construction at Goro is being blockaded by activists in the south of the island, Koniambo in the less-developed north will get a US$230 million tax break.
Author: Lawrence Williams
Posted: Friday , 22 Feb 2008 

LONDON - 

Local activists protesting against the construction of Vale Inco's huge Goro nickel project in New Caledonia have applied for a court injunction to halt construction. The latest focus of the activist opponents of the project is the 21 km long waste pipe being laid to carry neutralised mining waste slurry to the offshore disposal site, after activists had successfully blocked the original onshore disposal site by building a Kanak village there.
According to a Radio New Zealand news report, activist Mike Hosken say the pipe will cause severe environmental damage. "The three injunctions that we have lodged are: The work should not be carried out during cyclone season, we are in the middle of the cyclone season right now. And also the approval of the high commissioner was an obligation and that was not given. And there was information that was being withheld during the public inquiry, which is only now coming out. These are the three reasons why the court should stop the work."

Meanwhile work on the pipe laying has been stopped ‘voluntarily by Vale Inco for 48 hours, but this appears to be because of a blockade by local fishermen - reported to number in the hundreds by the project opponents, who have cut off access to the pipe-laying construction camp on the Isle au Casy.

While problems continue at Goro, there is good news for the even more costly $3.8 billion Koniambo nickel project which is to be developed in the north of the nickel endowed Island which has been granted a reported $230 million tax break by the French Government.