for some 40 and the internal causes for 25

Faced with the threat of a reduction of 10 of the number of hours worked, the unions of the Société Le Nickel (SLN), a subsidiary of Eramet in nickel, have exercised their right to alert and mandated expertise of Auditors of the company. Just transmitted to the Committee, cabinet Secafi report points to serious problems in the first private employer in New Caledonia. "The aging plant and mine sites, hazards and multiple drifts led to a significant increase in operating costs and difficulties to produce the desired volumes," explain these experts regularly working for works councils. Increase to historic levels of nickel has generated profits that were hidden "these excesses and led the company does not enough worry", they continue.

At the announcement of social measures, in February, the UMP MP Pierre Frogier said that "the crisis served developer to strategic mistakes and lean productivity" sln, while the unions blamed the subsidiary of Eramet to use the crisis to conceal mismanagement. The report shows that, since 2003, production costs have increased on average by 12 per year with a sharp acceleration in 2008. The causes of mineral origin (content, cost of environmental obligations and jobbers) account for a little more than a third, the external causes (rise in the price of fuel oil, marine cargo, etc.) for some 40, and the internal causes for 25. It is this last position leap unions. Between 2003 and 2008, the plant maintenance costs have doubled, and the coaching staff have greatly increased. At the same time, the production of nickel retreated gradually from 57.463 tonnes in 2000 to 51,000 tons in 2008 (with a peak at 62.378 tonnes in 2006 despite a significant social movement). Only 50,000 tonnes are planned this year.

Investment program

With earnings of previous years, the financial situation of the NLS remains "exceptionally good", emphasize the experts within the Treasury of the Caledonian company represents 80 of the Eramet group. Their estimates, the NLS losses amounted to about 644.000 euros per day and that "if they do not worsen, they do not jeopardize the company." The real issues are not there. "To survive lastingly, SLN must therefore operate a reorganization in depth, increasing mining and industrial performance and to implement a very important investment program which is currently frozen. "The partial unemployment is only a drop of water in the sea." "This will solve nothing because the problem is more profound", comments on the Secretary General of this. The Director of operations of the SLN, he puts forward the structurally loss-making situation of the company "which is not sustainable" to justify the social action plan. The Committee will make, this week, an advisory opinion on this plan. If the leadership continues, it will then drop its request to the local Executive.

In the current context current fiscal control to the SLN on the initiative of the Government and campaigning for the elections which will designate may 10 representatives of the three provinces, which will be from the future members of the Government , the time seems little conducive to high potential social challenge decisions.