Environmental Assessment
Volume B-1
Mine
Alternatives Considered
Ambatovy Project
3
January 2006
1.2.3
Electrical Power Systems
Alternatives for power supplies at the mine include coal-fired generation,
oil/diesel-fired generation, gas, biomass, nuclear or hydroelectric power.
Oil/diesel-fired power is the preferred alternative (Table 1-1).
Table 1-1
Analysis of Alternatives – Electrical Power Supply
Alternative
Engineering
Relative-Cost
Environmental
Social
coal fired
moderate efficiency
and availability
moderate capital,
lower operating
costs
moderate fuel
quality, generates
greenhouse gases,
SO
2
/NO
x
minimal impact
potential visible
stack
oil/diesel fired
(preferred)
moderate/higher
efficiency
higher availability
short construction
phase
lower capital,
moderate
operating costs
higher fuel quality,
generates
greenhouse gases,
SO
2
/NO
x
minimal impact
potential visible
stack
gas fired
combustion
cycle
high efficiency
higher availability
no domestic gas
supply
lower capital,
higher operating
costs
higher fuel quality,
generates green
house gasses,
SO
2
/NO
x
minimal impact
potential visible
stack
biomass
lower reliability of
supply
moderate logistics
depending on source
higher/moderate
capital, lower
operating costs
potential high land
use
permitting generally
easier
viewed often as
environmentally
friendly
hydroelectric
moderate reliability
(seasonal/weather)
requires transmission
line from existing
source
longer construction
phase
higher capital,
lower operating
costs
permitting generally
easier
may impact larger
land base
potential
displacement of
people from
dammed area
viewed often as
environmentally
friendly
renewable
(wind, tidal,
wave action,
solar)
lower
reliability(seasonal /
weather)
higher/moderate
capital, lower
operating costs
permitting generally
easier
renewable energy
source
viewed often as
environmentally
friendly
1.2.4
Mine Fleet Alternatives
Mine fleet vehicles will meet at least the standard or ‘Tier II’ based on the
USEPA off-road regulatory guidelines. This alternative allows the project to
meet key air quality criteria as described in Volume B, Section 3.4. Most vehicle
engines are likely to be better than Tier II.
