Mining Intelligence and News
New Caledonia

Societe Le Nickel (SLN) Mine

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Australia

Societe Le Nickel (SLN) Mine

Location: 0 Km N from Nouméa, New Caledonia

Address:

2, rue Desjardins Doniambo
Nouméa
France
BPE5 – 98848

Contacts:

Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors

Categories

Summary

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Nickel
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotSLN operates five main mines in New Caledonia: Tiébaghi, Kouaoua, Népoui, Thio, and Poum. The plant in Doniambo (Nouméa) specializes in the production of ferronickel (FeNi), particularly SLN®25, which contains 20–30% nickel.

In May 2024, riots in New Caledonia halted mining operations and damaged key sites, including Thio (dormant since October) and Kouaoua. Partial activity resumed in mid-June at Tiébaghi and Népoui, enabling ore delivery to Doniambo and avoiding kiln shutdowns.

Due to the disruption, SLN’s mining output dropped by 50% compared to 2023, while ferronickel production fell 35% year-on-year.

To support SLN through 2024 and into early 2025, the French State subscribed to an additional €150 million in perpetual subordinated bonds and provided €240 million in direct funding, totaling €390 million.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd. 10 % Indirect
Provincial government of New Caledonia 34 % Indirect
Eramet Group 56 % Indirect
Société Le Nickel – SLN (operator) 100 % Direct
Ownership is split between the French minerals group Eramet (56%), the holding company Société Territoriale Calédonienne de Participation Industrielle (entity held by the provinces of New Caledonia) (STCPI) jointly owned by New Caledonia’s three provinces (34%), and Nisshin Steel (10%).
SourceSource

Deposit type

  • Laterite

Summary:

Société Le Nickel-SLN is mining oxidised nickel deposits formed by the weathering of ultrabasic rocks.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Commodity Production

The limitation of the overall mining production resulting from the partial activity of the mines led to maintaining a production rate of the plant at its technical minimum to preserve the integrity of the furnaces. The level of production in 2024 has thus seen a sharp decline.
CommodityUnits2024202320222021202020192018
Nickel kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe4754
All production numbers are expressed as metal in alloy.

Operational metrics

Metrics2024202320222021202020192018
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe4,655 kwmt4,045 kwmt

Production Costs

CommodityUnits202320222021202020192018
Cash costs Nickel USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 5.91 / lb **   5.7 / lb **  
** Net of By-Product.

Mine Financials

Units2024202320222021202020192018
Capital expenditures M EUR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 30   49  
Revenue M EUR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Operating Income M EUR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
After-tax Income M EUR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
EBITDA M EUR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 59  
Operating Cash Flow M EUR  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameEmailProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 8, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 8, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 8, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 6, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 6, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 6, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 8, 2025

Workforce

EmployeesTotal WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2024
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2023
...... Subscription required ...... Subscription required 2022
...... Subscription required 2021
...... Subscription required 2020
...... Subscription required 2019
...... Subscription required 2018

Aerial view:

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