https://www.lexpress.mg/2024/02/projet-minier-base-toliara-prete-...

https://www.lexpress.mg/2024/02/projet-minier-base-toliara-prete-pour.html

MINING PROJECT - Base Toliara ready for recoveryMadagascar Express-Published on February 28, 20245730Communities in the Atsimo-Andrefana region aspire to the resumption of Base Toliara.The process of compensating populations affected by Base Toliara now only awaits its finalization and the resumption of the project.Optimism is taking hold among the population of the city of the sun. The announcement made by the State at the start of President Andry Rajoelina's mandate on the launch of some mining projects in Madagascar suggests that the Base Toliara Project could be part of this. The possibility of lifting the suspension of the project is beginning to germinate within the communities in this part of the island, signifying an effective resumption of the company's activities in the Atsimo-Andrefana region.For the Resettlement Working Group (RWG) in particular, the lifting of the suspension of this project will make it possible to resume the process of relocation and compensation of people affected by this project (PAPs). Mahasolo Natsiry, from the RWG in Toliara I, explains that this working group was created to represent the owners of land and tombs affected by the exploitation of Ranobe ilmenite.Reboot“RWG works in mediation between the communities and the company promoting the project,” he explains. The RWG is responsible, among other things, for monitoring compensation files and moving tombs, adds François Tovonay Niriko, representative of this platform in the rural commune of Tsianisiha.“Discussions around this relocation and compensation for PAPs started in 2015 with Toliara Sands, and continued with Base Toliara. Certain activities had already been launched and several tombs moved but everything was stopped until today with the decision to suspend this project,” laments François Tovonay Niriko. Also, “we hope for the resumption of this project, not only for the completion of this work but above all for the benefits that it will be able to generate for us,” he says. Everything is therefore today suspended from this lifting of suspension. Five mining projects would be affected by the State's announcement and for the moment, Base Toliara is one of the few which are already sufficiently prepared for a restart planned for this year.“The wait has already been long,” points out Victorine Pelazy, from Fokontany Tsiafanoke, in the rural commune of Tsianisiha. “We hope to enjoy the rights that have been agreed within the framework of this project. This is why we are calling on all decision-making parties to take action,” she said.Among the urgent acts which should mark the resumption is the signing of the “Transferability Order”. It will mark the cost of sending the determination of the amount of compensation, so that those affected can enjoy their rights.Madagascar Express