Environmental Assessment
Volume C-1
Slurry Pipeline
Alternatives Considered
Ambatovy Project
7
January 2006
Subsequently, in June, an engineering report was prepared delineating a feasible
route (approximately along E-2, and shown as the “proposed pipeline route” in
Figure 1-2). This route took the extra step of taking topography into account, and
should therefore be considered a more realistic version of Route E-2.
On July 7 and 8, 2004, a meeting was held near the mine site, bringing together
stakeholders from Toamasina and Antananarivo to re-examine alternatives
including the Torotorofotsy bypass route (F) and the forest corridor bypass
alternatives. The proponent’s technical and budgetary information concerning
this route was presented, showing that the use of this option could ultimately
jeopardize the financial feasibility of the project, in addition to having significant
social impacts along the road. Stakeholders reiterated that crossing the
Torotorofotsy Wetlands was considered undesirable, and indicated that if
essential, a pipeline along the railway spur through the wetlands would require
stringent environmental and social mitigation during the design and construction
phases. The development of a management plan within the Ramsar process for
the Torotorofotsy system was also discussed.
During the July 7-8 site visit, stakeholders also voiced the concern that crossing
the primary forest corridor north of the railway parallel to the Sahatandra River
would impact and fragment the forest over a distance of about 5 km. Because of
the typical recovery rate of such forest after a disturbance such as pipeline
construction, this would likely be a long-term impact. The group present voiced
a consensus that the bypass routing following the track along the south side of the
river over about 5 km (Route E-3) should be favoured over the routing that
follows the forested, northern side of the valley (Route E-2).
1.3
EASTERN ROUTE ALTERNATIVES
The eastern section of the direct route has a variety of options to bypass locally
important habitats, areas of social importance and locations unfavourable for
stream and river crossings. This section of the pipeline is less subject to critical,
problematic issues than the western segment (both social and environmental).
Potential eastern routes have been surveyed by helicopter and the route assessed
is shown as the proposed route in Figure 1-1. Issues with the east section of the
direct route include social effects (routings near villages and through agricultural
areas), environmental effects in some areas, and stream crossings.
During the second half of 2005, the proponents moved ahead with more
engineering planning for the slurry pipeline, including considering more
advanced results from the EA. It became clear that the section as amended,
running north from near Fanovana along the eastern edge of Mantadia National
