Béatrice Pierre
President of Prony Resources New Caledonia
Editorial
I am so glad to be able to write a short note to welcome you to the Prony Resources New Caledonia website.
Prony Resources is our company; a company made up of extraordinary men and women who participate daily in its growth. Prony Resources New Caledonia is a young, forward-looking company and we are committed to decarbonizing our product in order to sustainably participate in the industrial revolution of global mobility.
At Prony Resources, we contribute to the sustainable development of New Caledonia by developing its nickel and cobalt resources to the highest industrial and environmental standards. Let's be proud of our company!
Let's be proud of our company!
A Caledonian project
For the first time, Caledonian interests have a majority share of ownership (51% including 30% for the SPMSC and 21% for employees of Prony resources (with 12%) and local populations (with 9%). Trafigura, the world’s third largest trader of raw materials has 19% ownership. Finally, La Compagnie financière de Prony, which brings together industrial investors, clients and the management of Prony Resources, has the remaining 30% of shares.
The advantages of a large factory
Prony Resources, thanks to the recognized skills of New Caledonian chemists and metallurgists, is today one of the three global industrial facilities capable of producing NHC. Composed of 37% nickel and 2 to 3% cobalt, this intermediate product is the raw material for lithium-ion / nickel batteries used in the manufacture of electric vehicles.
With its experience and its industrial robustness, Prony Resources has all the assets to develop a competitive product for international markets and to create a “battery” center of excellence in New Caledonia.
This is a rewarding operation in more than one way since it both contributes to the international ecological transition and creates jobs and revives the Caledonian economy. It also offers New Caledonia a prominent place on the world map of nickel and cobalt producers for electric vehicle batteries.
The main actors
The SPMSC
The SPMSC is 50% owned by the North and Island provinces, and 50% by the South province. Its capital stake in Prony Resources amounts to 30%.
Fidal Fiducie
12% held by the FCPE (Corporate Mutual Funds) i.e. the employees of the company.
9% held by the FPRESC which designates an entity that will be constituted for the benefit of the population of New Caledonia according to the conditions of the Pact.
The Financial Company of Prony
Trafigura
For more than twenty-five years, Trafigura has provided products essential to everyday life by connecting producers and consumers in a reliable, efficient and responsible manner. Its activities also include mining, storage of petroleum products, metals and minerals, as well as product blending. Finally, Trafigura works to promote and finance projects linked to the energy transition.
Supporting mining assets throughout the world, the trader also has solid experience in investing in mining and metallurgical facilities, such as Prony Resources. In fact, in 2016, the group contributed, together with the Finnish government, to the rescue plan for the then bankrupt Talvivaara mine. Trafigura has taken a minority stake in the capital of Terrafame, the operating company, to which it now provides financial support as well as technical, commercial and marketing support. It was at the initiative of Trafigura that Terrafame decided, at the end of 2018, to launch an investment program to build a nickel and cobalt sulphate plant and to turn to the electric battery market. The transaction strengthened Trafigura's position as a leading supplier of nickel for batteries. This recognition constitutes a real advantage for Prony Resources, which will thus benefit from higher premiums for its products. In addition, Trafigura's in-depth expertise in the production and marketing of NHC is an essential asset for the development of Prony Resources. The South Caledonian plant also intends to take advantage of Terrafame's experience and forge an in-depth technical partnership with it.
Trafigura will occupy two seats on the Board of Directors of the Prony Resources consortium, but its representation will be delegated to the Prony Financial Company.
Guidelines
Terrafame Oy
European leader in electric nickel for batteries - 30% owned by the economic partner Trafigura - is a Finnish industrialist that integrates, like Prony Resources, a mine and a metallurgical plant.
Terrafame OY was converted three years ago in the production of NHC and expert in bioleaching (metal extraction technique involving microorganisms capable of converting these metals from the solid form to the soluble form), hence Terrafame OY will collaborate with the Usine du Sud on technical and industrial subjects by sharing its transformation experience and its environmental vision (reduction of CO2 emissions).
Tesla
The American multinational is the world's leading manufacturer of electric vehicles.
The 5-year agreement with PRNC will ensure the quality of the NHC product, the reliability and the optimization of the industrial process while guaranteeing supply for Tesla factories in Asia, Europe and America.
Prony Resources intends to maximize the value of its nickel and cobalt by evolving it towards purer forms that are adapted to Tesla's industrial model. Tesla, for its part, brings technical expertise in the development and improvement of the industrial process but also in the exploration of new forms of renewable energy storage. Tesla’s commitment will ensure a prioritization of sustainable development, which is at the heart of its corporate mission.
With this partnership, Prony Resources and New Caledonia are becoming key players in the sustainable mobility revolution.
Mines Paris Tech and Centrale Supelec
The result of a partnership between scientific research and the business world, this industrial chair is an ambitious collaborative program based on scientific questioning and a synergy of skills. It aims to improve the performance of PRNC.
Two industrial chairs are set up with Mines Paris Tech and Centrale Supelec.
These prestigious French engineering schools, through their research centers - the Process and Materials Engineering Laboratory for Supelec and the Process Thermodynamics Center for Mines Paris Tech - offer the know-how of eminent researchers and teacher-researchers to strengthen the competitiveness and innovation dynamics of PRNC.
LUCY,
an innovative project that respects the environment
An innovative project
Economic issues
The Lucy project offers new perspectives to the South plant by allowing it to perpetuate the Goro mine’s operations. It also provides the industrial facility with additional operating activity.
-
A larger stock of residue
The Lucy project will optimize the capacity of the current tailings storage area (Basin KO2). Without this investment, the future of the South plant would be compromised since the current tailings site will reach its maximum capacity in 2023.
-
More jobs
- During Lucy project’s construction phase, the site will employ many local businesses and generate up to 600 jobs.
- During the operational phase, the tailings dewatering plant will see its operation and maintenance ensured by a permanent team of operators.
Environmental and cultural issues
Indeed, Lucy will allow a significant reduction in land clearing, thus ensuring better preservation of biodiversity.
The Lucy project will also guarantee better control of water management. Finally, it could give rise to a gradual rehabilitation of the site by covering the residue.
