In New Caledonia, an agreement to decarbonize nickel

The ambition consists of an inversion of the proportions in the energy mix of the territory: the share of renewable energies, versus that of carbon sources, must respectively increase from 20/80% today to 70/30% by 2030, according to the agreement.

This framework agreement for an "evolution of the energy paradigm of nickel metallurgy: decarbonization" constitutes a "historic" step forward, indicated Christopher Gygès, member of the New Caledonian executive responsible in particular for the energy transition, during a conference of hurry.

The framework agreement provides for the eventual integration of the third nickel ore processing plant located in the North of New Caledonia, Koniambo Nickel (KNS), when the company wishes. Discussions are ongoing.

This conversion of the energy model in this South Pacific archipelago has become essential for "restoring the competitiveness of metallurgical activity" according to the document, but also with regard to climate change.

The trajectory is based on three pillars: the production of renewable energies of photovoltaic origin up to 100 megawatts-peak (maximum power) per year, "i.e. five times more than the annual average calculated since 2016", the creation of means of storage such as a pumped energy transfer station (Step), and large capacity batteries, as well as the installation of electricity production units based on gas engines in order to stabilize the network .

The century-old company SLN, a subsidiary of Eramet, will no longer produce the majority of its energy on its site. And the electricity from the Yaté dam, hitherto very largely oriented towards the metallurgist, will join the network.

Technical analyzes must now follow one another, in particular with the intervention of the Energy Regulation Commission (CRE). Funding also remains to be determined.