Confident On

New Caledonia Confident On 1960 Nickel

From a Noumea Correspondent It is confidently expected here at exports of nickel ore to ipan during 1960 will follow e same pattern as for 1959. otal exports this year will

•obably be between 600,000

id 700,000 tons.

CCORDING to Japanese buyers L here, there may even be a slight rise in the quantity to be iught in 1960, although there is no lestion of any price rise in the ;w contracts to be signed. Com stition from Canadian nickel is keen that Japanese smelters ive to watch their expenses very )sely. , ..

Meanwhile, the activities of the ternational Nickel Company in ;w Caledonia are intriguing local ining men. Three geologists of is big company have been in ecting nickel concessions on the jst coast. They have set up a lall laboratory and have engaged small local staff. A high official the company recently arrived Dm Canada to confer with the ologists.

Locally it is thought that this tivity could mean one of two ings (a) Treatment of very low ade ore by a cheap process, as rried out in Cuba and Oregon, or i) A break into the Common arket in Europe with New Cale inian nickel.

But whatever the plans, they can ily bring added prosperity to New iledonia.

New Japanese Interest It has been announced, too, that French-Japanese company is jng formed in Noumea to exploit ckel mining. Fifty-one per cent, the capital will be local, which necessary under French law, and ie remainder will be Japanese, tie French element is represented r New Caledonia Senator Henry ifleur.

It is more than probable that the ckel ore will be smelted here, lus obviating the long haul of ie ore to Japan.

There is still plenty of room in ew Caledonia for smelting in- The Nickel Company will not at 1 be affected by any new entrants ito the smelting field, for it is ell able to handle production.