Environmental Assessment
Volume C-5.1
Slurry Pipeline
Socioeconomics
Ambatovy Project
168
January 2006
5.1
SOCIOECONOMICS
5.1.1
Introduction
Field work, including consultations, socioeconomic data collection and
secondary data review, were undertaken for two alternatives at the time that these
were still options – a route along the rail to Brickaville and a more direct cross
country route. As noted in Volume C (Section 1), additional re-routing is
proposed and an Environmental Assessment (EA) amendment will be submitted.
This section assesses potential impacts that reflect the concerns of populations
between Moramanga and Toamasina. It is noted that irrespective of the alignment
of the final route selected, it will be a cross-country route, affecting rural, remote
populations with characteristics and the potential to experience effects that will
prove broadly parallel to those described in the pipeline baseline (Volume K,
Appendix 1.1) and this impact assessment.
As assessed, communes affected by the pipeline included Andasibe, Ambatovola,
Andekaleka, Lahariandava, Fanasana, Fetraomby, Vohitranivona, Ambalarondra,
Ambinaninony, Ampasimadinika, Fanadrana and Toamasina II. Contingent on
the final selection of the pipeline route, most of the communes are likely to
remain along the route. The areal extent of these communes is very large relative
to any potential pipeline route, and the potential effects of the pipeline are quite
limited. As a result, it is primarily settlements along any eventual route which
will in fact see effects.
Small settlements along the pipeline route will primarily be affected during the
construction phase, as the pipeline will be buried and land reclaimed and
available for most economic uses after construction. Construction will be rapid,
there will be no operational staff on the pipeline and maintenance is expected to
be minimal, thus few employment or business effects are anticipated.
Construction may also have some environmental effects that may in turn have
temporary socioeconomic consequences, as well as some disruptions to the
movement of people and animals.
The primary long-term pipeline effects will arise from the construction of
permanent access roads along the pipeline route, built to facilitate pipeline
monitoring/maintenance. In the assessment that follows, the construction of
access roads – with the potential consequent effects – is addressed in the
subsection on infrastructure.
