[Ferro-alloys.com] Global miner Vale does not have plans to shut its nickel operations in New Caledonia amid social unrest caused by an effluent spill, the company said to a local newspaper.

Peter Poppinga, an executive director at Vale, said he estimated damages to the mining site to be at least $20 million to $30 million, including the destruction of trucks and mining equipment.

New Caledonia's southern provincial government ordered an immediate halt to operations early May and has yet to communicate as to when Brazil-based Vale can resume its activities. 

• [Editor:Yueleilei]