April 04 2025
The 2025 edition of the Nunavik Mining Workshop took place from April 1 to 3 in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik. Thierry Rodon, accompanied by Jean-Marc Seguin, presented the conclusions of their meetings with the Kanak tribes in the region of the Koniambo Nickel mine and plant project. This project was operated by Glencore, which also operates the Raglan mine in Nunavik, where several Kanaks have worked. Here are their main conclusions:
- The mine has created jobs and economic growth, but it remains dependent on global nickel prices.
- Tensions persist between mining companies and Kanak communities regarding environmental issues and access to subcontracting contracts.
- Deforestation, pollution, and damage to ecosystems remain major challenges.
- The redistribution of mining contracts is problematic, leading to economic inequalities within and between tribes.
- Protests highlight concerns about environmental damage and redistribution issues.
- There is no plan for land rehabilitation and economic diversification, and with Glencore's withdrawal and the plant's shutdown due to competition from Indonesian and Philippine nickel, most Kanak subcontractors have lost their contracts.
- Ultimately, this project, conceived by Kanak independence activists to finance independence, has never fulfilled its promises. This serves as a lesson for independence movements (such as Greenland) that believe mining development will finance their projects.
Thanks to Jean-Louis Thydjepache for facilitating meetings with the Kanak tribes.
You can read the full report here: https://www.mineral.ulaval.ca/.../mine_de_nickel_de...
