BEAUTY and the BEAST

I'm an idealist living in a real world. I wish I wasn't, an idealist, that is.
Beauty in its purest form existed long before Beast. That was how it was supposed to be, I think, till wealth happened and Beast was born. It wasn't meant to be like that, I think. Wealth was supposed to help poor. It does, sometimes. I wish it did all the time. (There's the idealist, poking my nose where it shouldn't be, but is.) Beauty feeds Beast. She can't help herself. ( I wish she could.) Beast has good intentions. If not all the time, some of the time. Maybe that's what Beauty sees?

We are still road-tripping down Toamasina way, hopefully gaining some insight into the world of mining on the island. We will take a glimpse into part of Hilton's world. His whole world, well actually, his whole career world, has revolved around these awesome earth moving, shaking yellow machines.

My quip over the years: "Hilton has yellow blood, not red......" for obvious reasons, his machines!

In order for the complete story to be told, we begin at a town called Moramanga. We encounter this town just before we turn off to Andasibe and our overnight stay at Feon'ny Ala.

Moramanga (pronounced: Mooramanga!) Yes, I hear you practicing the sound.....keep to the long "oo" sound and not the "oe" Afrikaans sound!

As I was saying, Moramanga means "easy to beautify" and has an important place in the history of Madagascar. It was here on the night of the 29th March, 1947 that the Malagasy uprising against French colonial rule started.

Moramanga is also the capital of the Bezanozano people, (one of the eighteen ethnic groups on the island.) It is situated in the Alaotra-Mangoro region.

It has protected wildlife reserves close to it.

Analamazoatra Reserve 31 km east along the NR2.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park 43 km northeast. In fact just up the road from our overnight place. The largest lemurs like the Indri lemur can be seen here. We have yet to visit this national park. Yes, I hear you gasping, "Why haven't you visited the park yet?" I don't know. But it is on our to do list and I will be sure to share our visit with you when we go.

The Peyrieras Reptile Reserve ( a butterfly farm and reptile centre) is at Marozevo 40 km west of Moramanga on NR2. (Yes, yes, I will let you know when we've been there!)

There is fresh (!) milk to be had on the island.......

A street scene and a very unique way to sell shoes without taking up too much space.

Hilton has had the pleasure of staying at this hotel on the occasions he has had to spend a few days on the mine plant site which is situated just outside the town.

Most times he has stayed here there's been either no hot water or no water at all! These rooms at least have a pretty garden to look out on. He has also stayed in the rooms that look out over the street, similar to the one photo above. Just imagine the noise of the traffic........

The low-bed truck from Henri Fraise Fils & Cie, the company who employs Hilton, transporting a 740 ADT (articulated dump truck) to Antananarivo.

Our mining story begins with an Overview........

Overview

Ambatovy is a large-tonnage, long-life nickel and cobalt mining enterprise located in Madagascar. At a total project cost of US$8 billion¹, Ambatovy is the largest-ever foreign investment in the country – and one of the biggest in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean region. It ranks among the largest lateritic nickel mining entities in the world.

Ambatovy aims to be a leader in operational efficiency, health and safety, environmental management, and social engagement – while contributing to the long-term prosperity of Madagascar.

Production and Operations

Ambatovy is now in its Operations phase ramp-up. In March 2015, the company completed the 90/90 production test: achieving 90% capacity for a 90-day period. In September 2015, the company acquired Financial Completion. Once fully operational, Ambatovy will produce 60,000 tonnes of refined nickel, 5,600 tonnes of refined cobalt, and 210,000 tonnes of ammonium sulphate fertilizer annually for at least 29 years. This will place nickel as Madagascar’s top export, providing a significant stimulus to the national economy.

Plant Site

Operations begin at the Mine Site, where lateritic ore is extracted in slurry form and then transported by Pipeline to the Plant Site on Madagascar’s east coast, where it undergoes processing and complete refining. Click here to view key sites and related infrastructure.

Ownership

Ambatovy is a partnership of three companies – Sherritt International Corporation from Canada, Sumitomo Corporation from Japan, and Korea Resources Corporation from Korea. All partners are fully committed to transparent, sustainable, and responsible business practices.

Supporting National Growth

Ambatovy is already a major contributor to Madagascar’s national prosperity and a source of revenue for its people and government. During its lifetime, Ambatovy will generate important economic and social benefits through the payment of taxes and royalties, investment in infrastructure, job creation, local business development, and technology transfer as well as training, education, and health-related programs.

Caring for the Environment

As a responsible mining enterprise, Ambatovy is committed to upholding stringent environmental standards including the Equator Principles and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation Performance Standards. To meet and surpass these requirements and commitments, Ambatovy has developed a comprehensive approach to environmental management, which will ensure compliance, reduce residual impacts, and mitigate risks. Simultaneously, Ambatovy is implementing a world-class ’ biodiversity offsets program.

For additional facts and figures about Ambatovy, click here.

¹ As of January 2016

    

Mine Site

The Mine Site is located 80 km east of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, near the town of Moramanga. The Mine is only a few kilometers from the road and rail networks that connect it to the port city of Toamasina, on the east coast (see map).

Mine Site

The ore body at the Mine consists of two large, weathered lateritic nickel deposits located approximately 3 km apart (the “Ambatovy Deposit” and the “Analamay Deposit”). Combined, the Ambatovy and Analamay Deposits constitute one of the world’s biggest lateritic nickel reserves, covering an area of about 1,600 ha, with depths ranging between 20 and 100 m. Due to the soft nature of the ore, no blasting is necessary. Ore is surface-mined by hydraulic excavators and delivered to the Ore Preparation Plant (OPP) in articulated haulage trucks.

Ore Preparation Plant

The OPP is located at the Mine Site and separates the soft lateritic soil from rock and waste material. The laterite is combined with water to produce a slurried ore, which is pumped into the Pipeline that links the Mine to the Plant Site 220 km away.

With the difference in elevation between the Mine and the Plant site, the design has maximized the use of gravity to minimize the need for energy-intensive pumping facilities.

    

Pipeline

Nearly 22,000 lengths of 60 cm pipe were welded together to construct the Pipeline that connects the Mine to the Plant Site. The Pipeline has a proven design, similar to pipelines operating elsewhere in the world, and has a capacity to transport 826 tonnes of slurried ore per hour.

Pipeline road after construction

From the Ore Preparation Plant, the slurry is pumped into the Pipeline where it begins a 220 km, 30 hour, downhill journey to the Plant Site. Most of the energy needed to move the ore through the Pipeline comes from the 1,000 m difference in elevation between the Mine and Plant Site.

For nearly all of its length, the Pipeline was buried using standard “cut and cover” construction to an average depth of 1.5 m. In certain areas, Ambatovy drilled horizontally beneath the surface, leaving stretches of forest untouched, and allowing the Pipeline to pass safely below Madagascar’s scenic rivers.

Extensive rehabilitation over the course of the Pipeline is already returning the landscape to its natural state.

    

Plant Site

The Plant Site is a vast industrial complex covering more than 320 ha (or about the size of 250 football fields), and is located 11 km south of the Port of Toamasina. Facilities were designed, built, and now operate in accordance with Malagasy regulations and the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation Performance Standards.

At the Plant Site, the ore undergoes numerous steps – collectively known as the hydrometallurgical process – which ultimately yields refined nickel and cobalt. As indicated by its name, the hydrometallurgical process makes use of water – and other chemical compounds – to progressively separate nickel and cobalt from the other materials present in the ore.

Click on the image below for a description of the steps used to transform raw ore into fully refined metals.

I'm sure you'll agree with me, the above information is insightful and relatively easy to understand for the uninitiated.

So on a Sunday morning Hilton takes me on a little sightseeing tour. Our first stop, a little wander on the beach thanks to our 4x4 bakkie (truck).

The pristine beauty of the ocean, the soft, playful sea sand  the obliging sun, and the dancing breeze carry one to another place, another time..........

But just up the beach and onto a little road one is confronted by this monstrosity.......

It reminds one of a period in history that invokes fear, a rapid heart beat and a profuse letting of bodily fluids.

But this dear reader is an expat staff village! The security is unbelievable. I was so taken aback that I forgot to take a photo of the one security gate for entry and exit! I'm a bit baffled by this staff village. We've met quite a number of expats from around the world, and yes, some seem to be more security conscious than others preferring to be isolated from the local population. My question: "What's the sense of being so afraid, and why work in this environment if you're going to curtail your contact with the locals?"

Now, if you read my previous blog and took note about what I said regarding the attitude of the locals towards foreigners, you're probably saying: "huh?" what does she mean? I think staff villages with excess security exacerbate the situation instead of creating a platform that could be conducive to resolving issues for both parties. This type of security, I think, leads to suspicion.

The expat staff village where we stayed in Taolagnaro was in fact situated among the locals and I so appreciated the opportunity to interact with them. They went about their daily lives and so did we. Granted there were security guards and fences. Unobtrusive fences and security guards who were always willing, if they could, to answer your questions. I felt safe and secure while at the same time experiencing freedom of movement.

This village is literally a stones throw away from the Ambatovy plant site. Roll out of bed into work. Under the bridge one crosses from village to plant, meanders this peaceful little river......

And now the stark reality of the actual plant site. The photo on the left is the Henri Fraise plant site office with the road connecting it to the plant site.

Not too sure about the pollution!

A little further on, just around the corner, the Toamasina Henri Fraise Fils & Cie branch office and workshop.

The company low-bed truck ready to transport a CAT 16M - Grader. The low-bed driver takes great care of his truck and is quite a character.

Left: New D8T - Track Dozers.

Below right: 730 ADT - (articulated dump trucks)

These yellow mean machines have been part of my life for over forty-two years. 

I remember well our sojourn in the Kruger Park when Hilton worked for the National Parks Department. Being heavily pregnant, almost two weeks past my due date, insisting I accompany Hilton into the bush where he attended to repairs on a grader that required me to help operate it while the repairs were being undertaken! 

And so our love story continues!............