Environmental Assessment
Volume B-6
Mine
Reclamation and Closure Plan
Ambatovy Project
397
January 2006
6
RECLAMATION AND CLOSURE PLAN
6.1
INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL OBJECTIVES
Reclamation and closure of the mine site will be based on the following general
objectives:
•
Reclamation goals and objectives are being considered during design
and planning of construction and operations.
•
Progressive reclamation will be implemented where possible.
•
Upon cessation of operations, equipment will be decommissioned and
the area rehabilitated to restore the site to forested habitat consistent
with the surrounding zonal forest.
•
The reclamation and closure design will ensure that long-term physical
and chemical stability is provided.
The preliminary reclamation and closure plan is a living document that will be
updated throughout the Ambatovy Project (the project) life to reflect changing
conditions and the input of local authorities and stakeholders. In addition,
revegetation research and implementation as part of progressive reclamation will
also guide the refinement of concepts for final closure. More details of
reclamation and closure planning are provided in Volume H, Appendix 7.
The Ambatovy-Analamay mine site is within a contiguous natural near-primary
forest matrix at the edge of the Zahamena – Mantadia – Andasibe forest
conservation planning area. Thus the primary goal of reclamation at the mine
site will be to maintain biological integrity in terms of landscapes, ecosystems,
communities, habitats, plant and wildlife populations, species and genes. Forest
protection on the mining lease will be planned, implemented and enforced by
means of a forest management agreement being developed by the project
proponent with the Malagasy Forestry Service.
6.2
NO MINE OR EARLY MINE CLOSURE SCENARIO
The environmental management plan for exploration agreed upon between the
project proponents and ONE states that rehabilitation activities will be ongoing
following exploration regardless of whether the mine is developed or not. In
response to this agreement, the project is conducting ongoing restoration
activities on all sites, giving high priority to steeper-slope areas at the edges of
the ore bodies.
