Local communities hold traditional ceremony to bless the start-up of the Ambatovy’s mining operations

As an active member of the communities in which it operates, Ambatovy fully respects local customs and traditions. In this respect, at the beginning of the construction phase, Ambatovy decided to carry out atso-drano ceremony (ancestral blessing) with the tangalamena(local traditional religious leaders)from the area around the Mine siteto ensure that the upcoming work would run smoothly. The tangalamena suggested that Ambatovy conduct a joro (zebu sacrifice) to bring about success and remove any obstacles. The ritual took place in October 2007, which brought together the tangalamena, representatives from neighbouring villages and officials from the mine (SNC-Lavaling and Ambatovy).

After the recent successful completion of the construction phase, Ambatovy felt that it was essential to hold another ceremony to bless the start of the operations phase. Such events are sacred for communities located nearthe mine, western pipeline and throughout the Alaotra Mangoro region. Over the years, they have become a unique part of Ambatovy’s history. Ceremonies, such as these, seal community relationships for years to come. The blessing of the operations phase was previously agreed with the mine’s stakeholders and local communities at the construction ceremony in 2007.

On July 21, 2012 a joro ceremony was held in Mahamanitra, on the access road to the mine. Approximately 400 people were present including some of the region’s tangalamena; the mayors or deputy mayors of the three municipalities concerned: Morarano, Andasibe and Ambohibary; representatives from Ambatovy; officials from the mine and representatives from neighbouring villages. Six zebu were sacrificed on this occasion as this number has a special significance for the tangalamena. The number six (enina, in Malagasy) has a deeper meaning when used for blessings (enina ora, enin-kavelomana, an expression to symbolize longevity).

For Ambatovy, this blessing is proof of their social license to operate and marks another step further towards long-term development, both locally and nationally.