The main foreign partner in New Caledonia's nickel project in the territory's north, Falconbridge of Canada, has been taken over by a Swiss-based company.
Shareholders of Xstrata agreed to pay 16 billion US dollars to acquire Falconbridge.
Reports say Xstrata may change the name of the Canadian-based operation to Xstrata Nickel.
Toronto's Globe and Mail newspaper says Xstrata may look to unload Falconbridge's stake in New Caledonia's Koniambo project.
The New Caledonian project was launched early this year by the French overseas territories minister and is a key project aimed at developing the territory's mainly Kanak north in line with the 1998 Noumea accord.
The projected investment for Koniambo is 2.2 billion US dollars.
