On Madagascar : rescue in progress
The Malagasy state is trying by all means to save Air Madagascar. October 13, the council of ministers supported the company's request, requesting “a collective procedure to settle his liabilities”. Air Mad's losses are estimated at 80 million euros and it faces debt of 72 million. A few days before the reopening of the Big Island’s borders to tourism, end of October, However, there was great uncertainty surrounding the solutions that will be implemented to avoid the disappearance of the national company., created in 1961 under the name Madair. A change of name for the company would become Madagascar Airlines and a merger with its domestic subsidiary Tsaradia have been discussed.. But the company no longer has aircraft authorized to fly long-haul and its next rotations to Paris will have to be operated with chartered aircraft.. Its thousand employees are waiting to be decided on their fate : a vast layoff plan could be triggered, while no information is available on the manner envisaged by the State to settle the liabilities of Air Madagascar.
Farahantsana hydroelectric power station soon operational
A hydroelectric power station built on the Ikopa River, in Farahantsana (30 km north of the capital Tananarive) expected to enter service by the end of the year, announces the Malagasy Ministry of Energy. It will develop a power of 28 megawatts and will be connected to the interconnected electricity network of Tananarive by a 38 kilometer high voltage line., supported by 159 pylons. The plant will be operated by its manufacturer, the Tozzi Green Madagascar group, subsidiary of an Italian group specializing in the exploitation of renewable energies.
A forum against mining projects
A “public forum on climate justice and human rights” was held at the end of September in Antananarivo to give a voice to residents from different regions of the country opposed to mining projects.. At the initiative of the operation, the Research and Support Center for Development Alternatives-Indian Ocean (Craad-OI) intends to put pressure on the Malagasy government to adopt positions less favorable to large extractive projects, which often violate the right to land of local peasant populations. “Especially since these projects have a gigantic ecological footprint”, highlights environmental organization.
Two cable car lines planned
The French government and its Malagasy counterpart signed a memorandum of understanding on September 20 in Paris relating in particular to the construction of two cable car lines in Tananarive.. The project, the cost of which has not yet been quantified, will benefit from a direct loan from the French Treasury of 28 million euros of 88 million lent by Société Générale and guaranteed by Bpifrance.
A first line 9 long,2 km between Anosy district and Ambatobe district, in 30 minutes. The second line of 2,6 km connect Anosy and Ambanidia in 10 minutes. Optimistic, the government sets the objective of commissioning before the Indian Ocean Islands Games that Madagascar will host in 2023.
Clove speculation
The main exporters of Malagasy cloves have expressed their fears, early October, after observing speculative practices as nail harvesting begins on the East Coast.
New companies entering the sector would buy cloves from farmers at 16,000 ariary per kilo, a third more expensive than last year, by banking on a surge in export prices. Madagascar's competitor on the Indian market, main buyer, is Indonesia where the harvest looks bad this year. But nothing says Indian buyers will accept higher prices, underline historical exporters.
A 23rd region on the East Coast
President Andry Rajoelina formalized on October 7 the creation of the 23rd administrative region of Madagascar, cell of the Vatovavy, by the split of the old entity Vatovavy-Fitovinany. Mananjary becomes the capital of the 23rd Malagasy region, which also includes the sectors of Ifandiana and Nosy Varika. The town of Manakara, further south, retains its status as regional capital, but for the Fitovinany region alone which also includes the districts of Ikongo and Vohipeno. Administrative redistribution has sparked various local disagreements, but the Presidency of the Republic was keen to complete the project to create the 23rd region. This was a campaign promise from Andry Rajoelina, to satisfy an old demand of the notables of Mananjary.
