There is continued high tension in New Caledonia over the planned sale of the Vale nickel plant to a new consortium Prony Resources.
Pro-independence parties are firmly opposed to the deal, which is expected to be finalised next month, rejecting any role of the Swiss commodity trader Trafigura among the future stakeholders.
Photo: AFP
The plant was the target of arson attacks last month and is under police surveillance, pending further developments.
Opponents to the sale plan want the Brazilian-owned plant to go into local ownership, saying the plant and its resources should serve the territory's development and not be used by others to plunder.
The anti-independence side has accused the pro-independence FLNKS movement of staging a coup with its protests aimed at bringing New Caledonia to its knees.
It has called on the French state to re-establish order, describing the FLNKS actions as terrorism.