Paper short abstract:

This paper aims to provide a reflection on presence and absence of the French and local state in different types of mining projects in New Caledonia and what kind of ideas of the state is implied in claims addressed to theses authorities. It also hopes to begin a comparison with Papua New Guinea.

Paper long abstract:

In New Caledonia, the nickel mining sector offers an interesting way to examine the presence and absence of the state. This French overseas territory is currently involved in a decolonization process with a referendum on independence scheduled for 2018. This process translates into separate transfers of state powers to the territory, one of them being the regulation of mining activities. At the same time, mining is a political and economic issue for the pro-independence party and has led to the construction of a new nickel processing plant in the Kanak-led Northern Province. So that, nowadays, mining activities are distributed between three processing sites, altogether involving transnational corporations, French state and local authorities at diverse degrees, and small and medium extractive operations conducted by independent mining companies.

This paper offers to analyse how this diversity illustrates different views regarding the role of the state, which state is concerned, and what ideas of its role is implied, in relation to the nickel mining sector.

Based on the results of qualitative studies carried out in New Caledonia since 2013, we will examine the positions of the French state and the New Caledonia local scales of government regarding mining activities. Then we will review specific claims made to these forms of state by mining companies and communities.

Hence we hope to interrogate meanings of resource nationalism in New Caledonia and to compare it with the Pacific situation, especially Papua New Guinea.