| International advisory panel |
 |
Report |
 |
PDF version |
International advisory reportREPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY PANEL
August 2011
Ste.Luce
Tenders have gone out to begin the process of baseline studies leading to the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) required to qualify for an environmental permit at Ste Luce in the future. This process will take several years. One of the possible development scenarios examined by QMM in response to increasing world demand for ilmenite is to open a second front in Ste. Luce before the end of the Mandena mine. This much larger site will raise the same considerations and problems as Mandena in greater scale. There has already been speculative land purchase and some troubled (and unfounded) rumors that villages will be moved. Such factors are the grounds that could lead to discussions of a possible partnership between Azafady and QMM on social and environmental issues in Ste. Luce.
It will be incumbent upon QMM to take in consideration all the lessons learned from the planning for Mandena in seeking the necessary permits and in preparing for the larger and more sensitive Ste Luce site. The Panel will include a focus on Ste. Luce for its next visit.
Recommendation #17: It is important that QMM begin early and systematic planning of the study requirements and other preparatory activities to ensure minimum perturbation of this sensitive site