Police have been deployed outside the seat of government in New Caledonia after they used teargas to disperse a group of protesters trying to block access to the building.
Gendarmerie vehicle in New Caledonia Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
Local chiefs and pro-independence parties, which have been demonstrating for weeks against the sale of the Vale nickel plant, have blocked roads and the port of Noumea.
Vale is in negotiations with a new consortium, Prony Resources, but those opposed to them want Vale to instead deal with Sofinor of the Northern Province, which is in partnership with Korea Zinc.
Vale rejected the Sofinor bid and the French overseas ministry says the offer by Prony Resources is the only viable option it knows of.
The ministry also said the recent incidents and attacks won't lead to a positive outcome for New Caledonia.
In September, Vale's planned sale to New Century Resources of Australia failed, prompting the Brazilian owner to warn of the site's closure if no buyer was found by the end of October.
The Vale plant is a key employer in the very south of New Caledonia's main island.