New Caledonia imposes 50-year mining ban

The Congress of New Caledonia passed a 50-year ban on exploring and extracting minerals from its maritime area in April 2025, citing the precautionary principle to protect the environment. The decision followed intense discussions between pro-independence groups and the Calédonie ensemble alliance, who opposed the move, and the Loyalist faction, which supported it.

U.S. action contrasts with local ban

The vote occurred shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a decree allowing deep-sea mining in international waters, a move that AFP noted conflicts with international law. New Caledonia's ban does not apply to scientific research that avoids major environmental harm, according to local regulations.

Focus on ocean protection over profit

During debates, Jérémie Katidjo Monnier, a government member overseeing biodiversity and the Coral Sea Natural Park, stressed the need to avoid immediate economic gains and instead promote New Caledonia as a model for ocean conservation. He acknowledged the interest of multinational corporations in the region's mineral wealth.

Dispute over definition of exploration

Françoise Suve and Nicolas Metzdorf from the Loyalist faction argued that "exploration"—defined as acquiring knowledge—should be included in the moratorium. However, Magali Manuohalalo, a special rapporteur, countered that exploration is a prelude to exploitation and called for careful interpretation of the term.

Criticism of extended moratorium

An amendment extending the moratorium from 10 to 50 years, proposed by the UC-FLNKS and Nationalists group, faced criticism from Loyalist officials who called it too long. Deputy Nicolas Metzdorf emphasized the need to ensure future generations could benefit from the region's resources.

No major new debate on deep-sea resources

Since the April 2025 vote, New Caledonia's elected officials have not held major public discussions on deep-sea resources. Although a large oil company had previously shown interest in the area, the moratorium allows only scientific expeditions under strict conditions.

Focus remains on nickel

Johanito Wamytan, a government member overseeing ocean-related issues, said the moratorium requires data to be shared with local research centers. He noted that New Caledonia's attention remains on nickel, which continues to dominate the region's economic focus.

Opposition to ban rejected

Eighteen advisors from the Rally and the Intergroup Loyalists opposed the 50-year moratorium, requesting a second reading and proposing a shorter duration. However, their amendments were rejected on May 28 by a vote of 30 to 14, confirming the extended ban.

New fiber-optic cable project launched

In February 2026, the Tamtam project, a 411-kilometer fiber-optic cable connecting Port-Vila to Lifou, was officially launched. The cable, expected to be deployed by the end of 2027, will also include sensor nodes in the New Hebrides fault to monitor natural phenomena like earthquakes and water pressure.

World first hoped for in scientific monitoring

François Houllier, CEO of Ifremer, expressed hope that the Tamtam project could achieve a world first in scientific monitoring. The first data from the project is anticipated in early 2028, offering new insights into the region's geological and environmental conditions.