New Caledonians have been warned of economic collapse if the huge Vale nickel plant closes.
Last week its owner, the Brazillian company Vale, failed to finalise its sale to an Australian company, New Century Resources, and now the site is set to be mothballed with the loss of thousands of jobs.
Congress held an extraordinary sitting on the Vale issue in what has become a complex and urgent problem.
Walter Zweifel listened in.
A photo taken on May 27, 2015 shows Brazilian Vale's nickel processing plant of Goro in southern New Caledonia. Photo: AFP PHOTO / FRED PAYET