Mining company Goro Nickel says it's committed to protecting the environment in New Caledonia

Mining company Goro Nickel says it's committed to protecting the environment in New Caledonia

by Radio New Zealand

9th February 2006

The mining company Goro Nickel says it's committed to protecting the environment following a court ruling allowing the company to continue work on what's set to be New Caledonia's biggest industrial project.

The indigenous group, the Kanak Rheebu Nuu Committee applied for the mine's exploration licence to be revoked, seeking guarantees for environmental protection in the southern tribal area

A final ruling is expected in three months but the Chief Executive of Goro Nickel, Ron Renton, said they would rather shut down their operation rather than harm the environment.

"No reputable company is going to take risks around environmental impact. In fact, what you do, you shut down before you have a negative, if you think that you've lost control of a process and you're going to screw up the environment to put it bluntly, then you shut down until you can assure that you can work before an impact on the environment."