Environmental Assessment
Volume A-1
Introduction
Background and Objectives
1
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The joint venture of Dynatec Corporation of Canada (Dynatec), and Sumitomo
Corporation of Japan (Sumitomo) is proposing the development of the Ambatovy
Project (the project). The project involves the development of a nickel laterite
mine and process plant in Madagascar. The project will have the capacity to
produce approximately 60,000 tonnes of nickel and 5,600 tonnes of cobalt
annually over a 27-year period. The ore deposits are located close to
Moramanga, about 130 km east of Antananarivo, in east central Madagascar,
with process facilities located on the east coast near the port city of Toamasina.
The exploration rights to the deposits are currently owned by Ambatovy Minerals
Société Anunyme (SA), which in turn is owned by the joint venture. The
exploration rights may be converted to mining rights upon application to the
Ministry of Mines and approval of an Environmental Assessment (EA) submitted
to the Ministry of the Environment (Office National de l’Environnement, ONE).
The joint venture proposes to have the facility in production in late 2009 and
operations will last through 2036.
The project EA has been prepared pursuant to the national legislation of
Madagascar, including Decree No. 99-954 of December 1999. The EA follows
the Terms of Reference, issued by the ONE in July 2004 (Volume H,
Appendix 1)
The joint venture is committed to develop the project in an environmentally
responsible manner, as a good citizen of the communities in Madagascar where it
proposes to work. From the beginning of the project, Dynatec has been very
much aware of the uniqueness of the Madagascar environment and the sensitivity
to its preservation. The environmental objectives are:
•
to conduct business operations with the highest level of legal and ethical
commitment;
•
to comply with all applicable laws; adhere to high standards of safety and
care for the protection of employees, the public, and the environment,
and promote these policies through education, supervision, and regular
reviews;
•
that the project follows the general principles of the International
Standards Organization’s environmental management standards (ISO
14000), and complies with World Bank policies and guidelines, the
Equator Principles, Malagasy law, and other applicable internationally
accepted guidelines;
Ambatovy Project
1
January 2006
