Environmental Assessment
Volume B-3.4
Mine
Climate and Air Quality
Ambatovy Project
60
January 2006
3.4.6
Conclusions
The potential for emissions from the mine to affect the quality of air in the region
is an issue for regional stakeholders. Despite the mitigation and control
techniques incorporated in the operations of the mine, there will be an increase in
the atmospheric emissions in the region due to the mine. The air quality
assessment of the mine included predictions of SO
2
, NO
2
, TSP, PM
10
, lead and
mercury concentrations.
The key findings of the air quality assessment are as follows:
•
The maximum predicted concentrations are below applicable World
Bank Open Pit Mining or WHO criteria.
•
All of the predicted concentrations in the regional communities meet the
World Bank Open Pit Mining or WHO criteria.
•
Based on estimated SO
2
and NO
2
emission rates, acid deposition rates
were predicted to be less than 4 keq/ha/yr outside the mine buffer, with
an average of 0.1 keq/ha/yr over the study area.
•
The emissions from the mine (79 kt ECO
2
per year) would represent a
0.02% increase in national GHG emissions.
Of the 16 ambient air quality parameters assessed, all were rated as having a low
environmental consequence.
