Tuesday, March 9, 2021

"New Caledonia agrees to Vale nickel mine sale, Tesla to be partner" (TSLA; VALE)

 From Reuters:

Political leaders in New Caledonia on Thursday agreed new terms for the sale of Vale’s nickel business, including a majority stakeholding for local interests, seeking to resolve unrest over the planned sale.

The deal signed by pro-independence and loyalist leaders in the French Pacific territory also cited a “technical and industrial partnership” with Tesla, under which the electric car company would source raw materials for batteries.

Brazilian miner Vale’s decision last year to sell its nickel mine and processing plant to a consortium including Swiss commodity trader Trafigura sparked fierce opposition from pro-independence groups.

Violent protests led Vale to shut down the site in December.

Under Thursday’s agreement, political groups proposed that a 51% stake in the Vale operations be held by New Caledonia’s provincial authorities and other local interests. Trafigura would have a 19% stake, less than the 25% planned in the initial sale deal with Vale....

....MORE

Previously, March 1: 

"10 charts show China’s grip on battery supply chain to last decades"

Which discusses nickel and also has a link to a Reuters Explainer: "How the New Caledonia government collapse may affect the nickel market".