The Brazilian miner Vale is set to downscale its nine-billion US dollar nickel plant in New Caledonia in the face of competition from China.
Vale's nickel plant in New Caledonia Photo: AFP
The company is yet to detail its plans publicly but informed members of Congress in a closed session of its new strategy.
Vale has reportedly suggested closing the nickel refinery for technical and financial reasons and exporting more nickel ore while maintaining cobalt production.
A union leader has told the news agency AFP that 90 jobs may be lost.
But they say a further 1300 jobs could be under threat if the operation at Goro is reduced.
This year's production won't exceed 25,000 tonnes while in September the annual target was still 40,000 tonnes.
A Congress member has told AFP that Vale plans to export two million tonnes of ore a year - a proposal which would need government consent.