Environmental Assessment
Volume C-2
Slurry Pipeline
Project Description
Ambatovy Project
13
January 2006
In this section from KP 6 to KP 14.5 the approximately 8.5 km of forest rail track
around the north of the Torotorfotsy Wetlands will be removed and the pipeline
installed. On completion the rail track will be reinstated. A further section from
KP 21 to KP 35 will be constructed on a narrow section base to limit the clearing
effect.
The east section runs from KP 107 to the process plant site and is less of a
concern with 10 access points. Access road improvements, construction camp
and pipe storage areas will be constructed during the first ‘dry window’. The
balance of the activities will be completed during the second ‘dry window’.
The pipe material will be shipped to Toamasina in loads of about 10,000 tonnes.
They will be unloaded from the ship and trucked to dedicated stockpile areas
located next to the process plant site. The delivery from these central stockpiles
to the lay down areas along the pipeline will be by truck or by rail.
2.1.1
Route Investigations
Although many field studies took place as part of this EA, a combined
environmental and social survey team will work with the engineering team ahead
of construction, to do a final fine-tuning of the alignment to minimize impacts.
The following additional surveys will be undertaken during the final design
phase of the project:
•
detailed survey of the selected pipeline route and demarcation of the
pipeline centreline – this may prove to be logistically difficult due to
access limitations and may be supplemented by aerial surveys and
global positioning system (GPS) demarcation;
•
geotechnical surveys of pipeline route and intended station sites;
•
hydrological surveys to identify peak water flow rates in rivers – this
ensures that the pipeline is buried below the potential scour depth;
•
environmental surveys to allow final route fine-tuning to minimize
impacts:
−
ecological surveys;
−
cultural surveys;
−
land owners surveys; and
−
permit negotiations.
