The French minister in charge of overseas territories, Brigitte Girardin, says the nickel mining project in the north of New Caledonia is more than ever a priority.
She made the comment in Kone during a brief visit to the territory's northern province where the SMSP mining company plans to build a smelter in co-operation with Falconbridge of Canada.
Mrs Girardin said the mining of the Koniambo site is an indispensible step for economic development of the mainly Kanak northern province.
