Environmental Assessment
Volume B-2
Mine
Project Description
Ambatovy Project
4
January 2006
2
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1
INTRODUCTION
The proposed mine is located about 15 km north-northeast of Moramanga, in
Madagascar (Volume A, Section 3, Figure 3-1). Moramanga is about 120 km
east of the country’s capital, Antananarivo.
The mine will develop two resource areas, Ambatovy and Analamay. These
mineral resources contain an estimated 190 million tonnes of mineralized
material containing approximately 1.1% nickel and 0.1% cobalt. The mining rate
for ore will be about six million dry tonnes per year, in order to produce
approximately 60,000 tonnes of nickel and about 5,000 tonnes of cobalt annually.
Overburden and low grade ore will be mined in addition to the ore of interest.
Some overburden may be used for road surfacing; low grade ore may be
backfilled into mined out areas or stockpiled for treatment in later years. The
estimated project life for the deposit including processing of low grade, is at least
27 years.
The mine will be developed in sequence, moving across the resource, reclaiming
and revegetating areas mined earlier. Detailed water management and sediment
control plans are being established.
2.2
LAND PURCHASE PLAN
Mine Exploration Permit N° 459 is situated on two-thirds State land and
one-third private land. The mineral deposit, mine footprint and 300 m security
zone (total area 2,930 ha) are situated wholly on State land. For the purpose of
creating a buffer zone encircling the mining activities, in 1997 Phelps Dodge
submitted applications for a long term lease over an area of 6,900 ha.
On September 11, 2003, the proponent informed Land Registry Authorities of the
intention to restart the project and finalize the Long Term Lease applications.
The proponent has identified the plots of land to be purchased in the area of the
mine.
