Summary
Socioeconomics
The human and ecological health assessment evaluated the potential for
adverse effects to human health associated with emissions from the
plant. The incremental health risks of human exposure to drinking water,
eating fish and produce, as well as air inhalation, skin contact with soil
and accidental eating of soil during operations and post-closure were
considered low to negligible. Potential impacts on aquatic life and
livestock resources were also considered negligible.
Human health
The scale of the plant project is expected to bring large economic
benefits to the Toamasina area through creation of employment, demand
for businesses, contributions to educational institutions and
improvements in infrastructure. Such an economic stimulus will result in
improved socioeconomic status overall. The potential for economic and
social change in the local area requires an adaptive management
strategy to optimize benefits and minimize negative effects rather than
specific mitigation measures. The socioeconomic analysis provided here
includes the three coastal project components (port expansion, tailings
area and plant site), since they will affect the same local area, which
includes the city of Toamasina.
Socioeconomics
The project will offer pre-employment training, basic skills training, jobs
and other benefits to local people. To mitigate uncontrolled migration to
the project site, the recruiting area for job training, employment and
procurement opportunities will be Toamasina. Business opportunities in
the immediate vicinity of the plant site and tailings are likely to be fewer
than for Toamasina generally, given there very few small businesses in
what is a largely rural setting, however this has potential to grow with
time. Given the size of the project, the high volumes of materials
required for operations and the fact that many of these materials will
pass through the port, there will be a large number of business
opportunities created by the project. Businesses with capacity to supply,
even if located elsewhere in Madagascar, can be expected to expand or
relocate to Toamasina in order to be close to what will become a major
customer. In addition, assistance to businesses under the Ambatovy
Empowerment Program will expand their capacity to supply project
goods and services over time.
Economic
opportunities
River taxi on Pangalanes canal
Direct Malagasy labour force requirements at all three Toamasina area
project sites, will be about 1,100 out of the total work force of 2,800 over
the 36-month construction phase. About 1,100 individuals from the local
Toamasina area would be employed during operations. As local people
gain skills and experience through the construction stage and through
training, they would be in a better position to access more skilled jobs.
January 2006
Ambatovy Project — 30
