Environmental Assessment
Volume A-6
Introduction
Consultation
intended to provide updates on project activities, collaborative approaches, and
challenges the project development is facing.
6.4.2.2 Results
Although very senior government representatives are often called away on an
urgent basis, attendance at consultation meetings has been good, and
participation very active. Strong interest and support for the project are evident.
A summary of issues raised follows:
•
Employment and training: There was strong interest to see that
employment benefits would be maximized, through not only a
commitment to hire in Madagascar to the extent possible but also
through training of Malagasy employees to upgrade skills. Training
should permit the percentage of the workforce that is Malagasy to
increase over time. Concern about employment benefits also extended to
questions about health and safety of workers, terms of employment for
expatriate employees, how trainees will be selected and other human
resource issues.
•
Closure: Recognizing that the mine itself now has a projected life of
27 years, although the processing facility could be operational for
longer, there was interest to see what is being planned for closure.
Post-operations land use, training of Malagasy employees, and the
potential for economic dislocation were of specific interest.
•
Value added: Madagascar was interested to understand what potential
there might be for increasing the value added within Madagascar.
•
Reclamation and revegetation: Land reclamation and revegetation
particularly of the mine site will have implications for environmental
integrity and subsequent land use. There was interest to know how land
will be reclaimed, with what species it can be revegetated for example,
and what this may imply for future economic use of the land.
•
Land acquisition and expropriation: The process of land acquisition is
still underway, thus there were questions regarding any expected
requirements for expropriation relative to private sale or agreements
with the state. This relates to any expected role for government as well
as to project proponents’ expectations and intentions regarding
resettlement.
•
Project alternatives: As the proponent considered various alternative
sites and routing for project-associated facilities, participants have been
interested to understand what the criteria for site selection are, and to
provide viewpoints on the advantages and disadvantages from the
government point of view. There was also interest to see that
alternatives were eliminated as soon as possible, so that work –
Ambatovy Project
30
January 2006
