The New Caledonia business organisation MEDEF says the Vale nickel processing plant, which has been closed for almost three weeks, will resume operations any time from tomorrow.
The Goro plant was temporarily shut down after 100,000 litres of effluent, containing some acid, ended up in a creek.
MEDEF's chief executive, Catherine Wehbe, says Vale is waiting for authorisation from the government of the Southern Province for it to re-open, which should happen tomorrow.
She says some employees have been sent into the plant to set it up for re-start this week.
"The police has secured to permit the employees of Vale and also some subcontractors to go in the site, and they will secure all that needs to be secured and that they will start again progressively to have an activity."
Catherine Wehbe says if the plant were to close permanently, there would be huge economic and social implications for the region.