 The extraction and transport of ores and steriles will be carried out by conventional hydraulic spades of 5.6 m3 and 50t dumpers. The uneven terrain and the necessity of working simultaneously on several mining fronts exclude the use of larger equipment usually chosen in order to reduce costs. More than a third of the project’s total workforce will be employed on the mine. The personnel will be for the most part members of the local population.
The stripping work for the mine, a preparatory stage to its commercial exploitation, will commence approximately 12 months prior to metallurgical production. The design of sterile stems and ore stocks constitutes an important part of the mine’s dimensions; taking into account its uneven topography, the vast stretch of its resources and strict environmental objectives.
The mine will conform to norms established by New Caledonian and international regulations. In accordance with environmental norms, the mine will also incorporate work towards draining and channelling the stream waters, for the improved handling of the waters and against erosion. The roads will be 20m wide with a maximum slope of 10% to ensure safe driving and limit the environmental impact linked to streaming.
All the equipment will be diesel fed. To optimise the work and evaluate it’s productivity, the mining teams will be supplied with global positioning information systems via satellite. Periodic maintenance will be carried out in a workshop situated on the massif.
• Exploitation rate: 20h h/day, 300 279 d/year
• 4 MT/year of humid ore excavated (manipulated 10MT)
• 3.3 MT/year of humid ore (25% H2O) at the plant
• A small equipment kit for better quality control
• Hydraulic spades with 5.6m3 containers will load the ore onto 50 tonne rear-emptying dumpers
• 240 246 people will be employed on the mine site
• GPS information and dispatch systems will follow the entirety of the mining material
• Rigorous environmental objectives
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Mine and geology 
