A Strategic Conference for New Caledonia’s Nickel Industry
Organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the conference dedicated to the global nickel market and the situation in New Caledonia brought together the key stakeholders of the industry on November 19, 2025. Hosted by Dominique Katra, the event gathered 180 participants, including Thibault Martelin, President of Prony Resources, alongside Guillaume Kurek, CEO of SLN, and Jérôme Baudelet, CEO of Eramet Indonesia.
The objective of this meeting was to share a clear assessment of the major changes affecting the international market, while identifying concrete solutions to build a sustainable future for the nickel industry in New Caledonia.
A Pillar of the New Caledonian Economy
Nickel accounts for nearly 90% of the value of New Caledonia’s exports and directly or indirectly supports a significant share of local employment. The industry influences a large proportion of public revenues, investment, and the territory’s economic attractiveness, making it a strategic issue far beyond the mining sector alone.
In this context, Prony Resources plays a key role with its Southern Industrial Complex, one of the few facilities in the world capable of producing Nickel Hydroxide Cake (NHC), a material used in batteries for electric vehicles.
By contributing to the global battery value chain, the company positions New Caledonia at the heart of the international energy transition while strengthening the local industrial base.
Key Figures
At the territory level, the nickel and cobalt industry places New Caledonia among significant producers for global markets, with approximately 3,000 tonnes of cobalt produced in 2023 and continued growth in NHC product exports despite an unfavourable price environment.
For Prony Resources, 2025 marks a return to improved productivity, with annual production expected to reach between 35,000 and 40,000 tonnes, bringing the plant closer to its target of at least 45,000 tonnes per year within the next two to three years.
The Southern site employs more than 1,300 people, in addition to a substantial network of subcontractors, and is preparing for the commissioning of the Lucy Project, which is essential to securing residue management and extending operations.
These figures highlight both Prony Resources’ economic importance and the company’s ability to invest in sustainable industrial solutions.
Values Put into Practice
Prony Resources’ participation in this conference reflects its commitment to transparency, responsibility, and dialogue with all stakeholders across the territory.
The company’s key values — “Succeeding together and safely,” “acting with commitment and rigour,” and “delivering performance for the energy transition” — are not merely statements: they are intended to be measured, assessed, and shared.
