Rallies are taking place across New Caledonia to oppose the planned sale of the Vale nickel plant to a new consortium, Prony Resources.
Seat of government in Noumea Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
Traditional leaders and the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front reject the sale plan and instead want Vale to negotiate with Sofinor.
Protesters blocked access to the Vale mine site and continue to block the port of Noumea in defiance of a court order to keep access free.
Today's rallies are to be followed by a territory-wide day of protest on Friday.
The French government and the regional local body support Vale's negotiations with Prony Resources, whose stakeholders include a Swiss-based commodity trader.
Vale had rejected the Sofinor bid and the French overseas ministry said the offer by Prony Resources is the only viable option it knows of.
Yesterday, police used teargas to disperse a crowd trying to block access to the seat of government in Noumea.