The New Caledonian government has met the head of the new parent company of Goro Nickel.
Roger Agnelli of the Brazilian CVRD company has just completed his first visit to the territory after CVRD bought Goro in the biggest foreign purchase of a Brazilian company.
The minister for economic development and mining, Didier Leroux, says the government met Mr Agnelli for discussions.
"Emphasis has been made on the respect of the environment, the respect of cultural differences towards the native community, and we have told CVRD that it was very important for New Caledonia that this plant is a success."
Didier Leroux
Goro Nickel's spokesperson, Catherine Guillaume, says Mr Agnelli has not announced any changes to the proposed plant and its construction will continue as planned.
The Goro Nickel project has been opposed by Kanak activists and a ruling is due in France next week on whether to grant an injunction to halt all construction work because of alleged environmental damage.
