SNNC recently visited mines in New Caledonia with Nickel Mining Company, the local joint mining corporation owned by SMSP and POSCO, to supervise the overall QSS activities.

In July 2009, SNNC took actions to eliminate quality disruption factors in the material productions stage in order to reduce future costs, and it also conducted a midterm review by a joint QSS drive team with NMC to ensure the acquisition of high quality minerals.

The joint QSS drive team visited four mines belonging to NMC and reviewed the progress on local facility improvements designed to address errors and quality and production issues arising from moisture, lumps, or composition differences in minerals.

Meanwhile, NMC agreed to use this opportunity to expand its future exchanges with SNNC and ultimately to produce high quality materials and strengthen innovations at its local mines.