Environmental Assessment
Volume C-1
Slurry Pipeline
Alternatives Considered
Ambatovy Project
9
January 2006
The western “proposed pipeline route” (Figure 1-2) will have slight
modifications made to it as a result of this EA, engineering input and further
consultation with stakeholders.
The conclusions for the pipeline’s eastern section are:
•
a direct route is preferable for social impact reasons;
•
the route passes through mainly slash and burn and agricultural areas.
To avoid social and environmental impacts, it will be diverted around
pockets of land that are valuable or sensitive for environmental or social
reasons;
•
for engineering purposes, where possible the pipeline will avoid
highlands and problematic water-crossing locations; and
•
a large re-route is recommended in the east as a result of engineering
and environmental concerns. The slurry pipeline will therefore be the
subject of an EA amendment.
Overall, the preferred routing is a compromise between constructability/
engineering costs versus environmental/social costs. In addition the large re-
route in the east, fine tuning of the route will occur to minimize social and
environmental impacts as detailed in this Volume.
