Environmental Assessment
Volume B-1
Mine
Alternatives Considered
Ambatovy Project
1
January 2006
1
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
1.1
NO PROJECT ALTERNATIVE
If the Ambatovy Project is not developed, both the positive and negative impacts
of the project will be eliminated. However, because the baseline case is dynamic
(with long-term trends of deforestation at about 1% in the vicinity of the mine),
losses of biodiversity, flora and fauna would be expected even in the no-project
option. The no-project alternative is also likely to involve continued relatively
slow rates of economic growth in the project areas.
The positive effects of the project, including economic benefits for employees
and other stakeholders in the areas of Moramanga and Toamasina, will occur
principally over a period of 30 years (construction and operations), with the
potential to extend benefits past that time due to infrastructure development and
other beneficial social and economic spin-offs during the course of the project.
In addition, the successful development of the Ambatovy Project has the
potential to encourage other future projects in support of economic development
in Madagascar.
Because the residual biological impacts of the project are compensated for
through offsets, they are not considered worse than they would be under the no-
project option. Indeed, compared to the no-project alternative, the project has the
potential for net positive benefits to biodiversity.
The physical and social effects of the project under the disciplines of topography,
soils, natural risks, visual aesthetics, noise, traffic, water quality and hydrology
are anticipated to be greater than no-project alternative impacts for these
disciplines on a site-specific basis. Because of project mitigation, however, the
residual impacts are generally low to negligible and are offset by the positive
effects described above.
In summary, the Ambatovy Project is considered a better option than the no-
project alternative.
1.2
WITHIN PROJECT ALTERNATIVES
Upon defining the viable ore reserves and the final mine boundaries, due
consideration was given to alternatives relative to the mine area development.
The objective of the mine development is to establish plans to minimize social
