Wisco will start its drilling project in late May

The company, Wisco, confirmed this weekend it will start its drilling project in late May. This project which will assess the actual amount of iron contained in the 3 exploitation sites, including Soalala, Ambohipaky and Ankasakasa.

8 new and powerful drilling machines are expected to arrive from China in the beginning of May. And the project will be subcontracted to the Chinese company, Heinan. This initial phase of the project will last six months and will employ 56 persons, for which the General Manager of Wisco, Luo Yuan Jun, announced that the company will prioritize the local workforce.

But prior to the drilling operations, Wisco’s staff and the technical evaluation committee, appointed by the National Office of Environment, conducted this weekend public consultations in the communes that are concerned by the project. The grievances of the people living in these communes were more about social problems than about environmental ones. For example, they asked for the rehabilitation of the residence of the Soalala District Chief as well as the road connecting the Commune of Katsepy with Soalala which becomes impracticable each year from December to April. The local population also asked for a constant supply of drinking water.