The presentation comprises 57 slides, including two short films.
It begins by describing the specific geological context of New Caledonia, which led to the formation of the oxidized nickel deposits currently being mined.
This is followed by a brief overview of nickel applications, before moving on to the global distribution of the resource and China's special place in the world nickel market. The importance of nickel in the Caledonian economy is also explained.
This is followed by an overview of "sustainable development" approaches to the mining process, including geophysics, prospecting and helicopter-borne drilling, slurry pits intended for re-mining, mining project approaches with phasing from opening to closure, giant tailings pits, matching mobile equipment with "dispatch" (film), offshore loading conveyors, the contribution of mineralurgy to resource preservation via saprolite enrichment units, revegetation processes, the conservation policy for areas with high biodiversity potential, and the framing of some of these techniques by best practice guides.
The second part of the presentation describes how the resource can be valorized through a variety of metallurgical processes, depending on its position in the weathering profile.
Three pyrometallurgical processes (including a film for the RKEF (Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace) process) and four hydrometallurgical processes are described, with a comparative carbon footprint.
The delicate issue of relations between project teams (design) and operators is then addressed.
The social aspect is not forgotten, with a few examples of CSR and, above all, training for men (and women) via a unique example.
The presentation concludes with a debate on the principles of resource governance.
