Participation of Kanak communities in theKoniambo project: the role of subcontracting

Pacific Geographies

article

Raphael Rosner¹ 

[1] Meckenheimer Allee 65

关键词: Subcontracting;    New Caledonia;    large-scale mining;    indigenous entrepreneurship;    social embeddedness;   

DOI  :  10.23791/501219

来源: Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Pazifische Studien e.V.

【 摘 要 】

Nickel mining is a field of political contention in New Caledonia. The government of the NorthernProvince, dominated by indigenous Kanak people, wants to use the nickel sector as an instrument for politicaland economic emancipation from France. The Koniambo project is a large nickel mine and processing plant runby a joint venture (Koniambo Nickel SAS, KNS) including the holding company SMSP (51% shareholder) and theSwiss group Glencore (49%). In addition to growing local employment and public shareholding, the project is ananchor for jobs and regional economic development for Kanak people, without involving pro-French corporateor government interests. Local people are, therefore, encouraged to work and develop the project in and aroundthe mine.This paper looks more deeply at local subcontracting around Koniambo, and whether it is a sustainable meansfor local communities to engage in large-scale mining projects. The results show that small companies mostlywork in the domains of earth works, transport and waste management. Many local businesspeople found it hardto sustain their activities after the end of the construction phase of the nickel smelter, or to make contracts andoperate outside the mining sector. The social embeddedness of economic activities in local contexts is a key issuefor the success of business activities. On the one hand, business development is a chance to generate wealth, buton the other hand, it widens social disparities. The rapid introduction of competitive economic behavior in Kanaksociety had led to tensions and conflicts between local businesspeople.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND