2011
AMBATOVY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
5
About Us
Mine Site
The mine site is located near the town of Moramanga in
the Alaotra Mangoro region, 80 km east of Madagascar’s
capital, Antananarivo. The ore body at the mine consists of
two lateritic nickel deposits: the Ambatovy deposit and the
Analamay deposit. The footprint will cover 1,800 hectares (ha)
over the life of the mine. Ore will be surface-mined and turned
into slurry for transportation to the plant site via a pipeline.
The mine lies at the southern end of the eastern rainforest.
The partially degraded forests around the mine have
undergone considerable human-induced pressures, including
hunting and gathering, selective logging, slash-and-burn
agriculture, uncontrolled fires and species collection for trade.
Pipeline
Ambatovy’s pipeline, which is approximately 220 km, runs from
the mine to the plant site in Toamasina. The route selected for
the pipeline made some significant deviations to avoid sensitive
environmental areas, cultural sites and local populations. It
is buried for the majority of its route, avoiding critical wildlife
habitats and residual forest fragments. In addition, workers
from communities along the route have been hired to plant
deep-rooting vegetation to stabilize steep slopes, prevent
erosion and assist rehabilitation. The pipeline delivered its first
batch of over 2,500 tonnes of slurried ore to the plant site in
July 2011.
Plant Site
Ambatovy’s headquarters are located at the plant site, 11
km south of the Port of Toamasina in the Atsinanana region.
It is an industrial complex covering more than 320 ha. The
facility was designed and built to operate in accordance with
Malagasy regulations and International Finance Corporation
(IFC) Performance Standards. The site’s main components
include a pressure acid leaching area, a refinery and a utilities
area to support the process. Site facilities also include a
medical clinic, training centre, several canteens, warehouses,
workshops, a laboratory, offices and living quarters.
Tailings
Residue with no commercial value left over after mining,
processing and refining is known as tailings. The tailings are
neutralized and pumped from the plant site through a 15 km
pipeline to the tailings site – a secure, stabilized area where
the treated residue is discharged for permanent safekeeping.
Excess water from the tailings is discharged into the ocean
through a 1.5 km diffusor system designed to minimize
localized impacts. A portion of this water is available to be
reused at the plant site. When the tailings site has been filled,
it will be reclaimed and drainage systems re-established.
Ambatovy’s tailings facility was built to specifications
consistent with the requirements of the IFC. The site was
chosen for its relatively low environmental sensitivity.
End Products
Ambatovy will use hydrometallurgical processing developed
by Sherritt International Corporation to produce finished
nickel, cobalt and ammonium sulphate. It will generate 99.8%
pure nickel and cobalt. Ammonium sulphate, a by-product of
the process, will be produced in crystallized granules and sold
as agricultural fertilizer.
Markets Served
Ambatovy will supply a global portfolio of industrial customers
located primarily in Asia, Europe and the United States.
These customers will use Ambatovy products as inputs for the
production of stainless steel, chemicals for the manufacture
of battery products, special alloys for turbine components and
other industrial products.
