| HOME WISE Uranium Project > Mining & Milling > Issues > |
(last updated 10 Jul 2008)
(UIC) (UIC)
New uranium mining projects are possible, since the new coalition government, elected on 2 March 1996, scrapped the former limitation (Three Mines Policy) immediately. (Sydney Morning Herald, March 23, 1996)
Uranium Exploration Australia Ltd has signed an agreement with India's Reliance Industries Ltd to explore for uranium in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Reliance is the largest private sector company in India.
The eight tenements involved include four near the Olympic Dam mine in northern South Australia.
UXA managing director Patrick Mutz said while Australia could not currently export uranium to India, Reliance were likely to be taking a broader view of the strength of the uranium sector than simply securing supply for the Indian market.
(Adelaide Now Dec. 10, 2007)
has accepted the federal Government's push to expand uranium mining and exports.
(Australian 4 May, 2006)
(ALGA) is calling on the Federal Government to stop the development of any more uranium mines in Australia. Almost 800 members voted for the motion at the ALGA meeting in Canberra
on 1 Dec. 1999. (ABC News 2 Dec. 1999)
The Senate Select Committee on Uranium Mining and Milling has supported the 1977 Fox Inquiry principal findings that there should be no unreasonable impediment to developing Australia's uranium mining. It concludes that those findings have been "vindicated by two decades' experience". Chairman, Grant Chapman, said that the report "recognises the industry's achievements in being responsive to public interest. It deserves more recognition for its conscientious approach than it receives". "Australia's cautious, careful policy has resulted in mining with minimal impact on the environment. This should continue", he said.The Office of the Supervising Scientist was commended and encouraged to develop "a broad expertise in environmental aspects of uranium mining and milling." But the report recommends establishment of a new Commonwealth Uranium Authority which would duplicate present state and federal arrangements for environmental and health supervision. This should be complemented at each mine by a consultative committee representative of local interests. Government Senators recorded their disagreement with the proposed Authority but support for the consultative committees. Senate 15/5/97
[UIC Weekly News Summary 16 May 1997]
View Select Committee Report
View Minority Report by Senator Dee Margetts and Senator Meg Lees
Select and download Committee Hearings
Transcripts.
View Australian Government response to the Select Committee report (May 1998)
> Search Sydney Morning Herald
On April 8, 2008, Arafura Resources Ltd announed that it has commissioned a definitive feasibility study for its Nolans rare earth project. The project is being developed to produce co-products of 20,000 tonnes of rare earths and 150,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid. The project will also produce by-products of calcium chloride and a small amount of uranium.
has described the land around the Angela and Pamela uranium deposits as an important ecological area that needs to be preserved.
Two companies have been given exploration rights for the deposits, which are 25 kilometres south of Alice Springs and estimated to be worth $2.5 billion.
But the Environment Centre's Emma Young says use of the area should be kept to low impact activities like tourism.
"It was identified in the NT draft parks masterplan as a site of national biodiversity and conservation significance. It's not actually within the NT parks structure at the moment, but it was identified as being a very important ecological area that should be preserved."
She says new mines could also impact the town's drinking water supply.
"The deposits are located within the Alice Springs water catchment area and that'll have direct and indirect impacts on the quality and also on the amount of water that's available to Alice Springs township." says many people in the community are opposed to the development of a uranium mine so close to the town.
(ABC Feb. 21, 2008)
> View deposit info
ERA has been
granted final approval to mine the Ranger 3 orebody.
Development can now begin at the orebody, which has proven and
probable reserves of 56,615 t U3O8. ERA
plans to commence production from Ranger 3 in 1997. [UI News
Briefing 96/20]
Ranger mill capacity is to be increased 50% to handle almost 2
million tonnes of ore per year, corresponding to 5000t/yr
U3O8 production from Ranger ore
(stockpiled from No.1 orebody and to be mined from No.3). This
will cost some $38 million and be completed in mid 1997. [UIC
Weekly News Summary 28 June 1996]
> For opponents view see Ranger-3
Uranium Mining Project.
Environmentalists have launched a campaign to have the $5 billion Koongarra uranium deposit formally incorporated into Kakadu National Park. Koongarra is just three kilometres from the sacred rock art at Nourlangie, but despite being surrounded by Kakadu National Park, the deposit is not part of the park. The French company Areva has asked to mine 14,000 tonnes of uranium at the site, only to be frustrated by its traditional owner. Jeffrey Lee wants Koongarra incorporated into Kakadu, and the Australian Conservation Foundation says it is high time that happened. "It's in a most beautiful part of Kakadu, it just shouldn't go ahead," he says. Under Commonwealth laws, the Northern Land Council must ask Mr Lee if he wants the site mined by next June. After that has happened, the Commonwealth can consider absorbing it into Kakadu. (ABC June 3, 2008)
Jeffrey Lee, sole member of the Djok clan and senior custodian of the Koongarra uranium deposit, has decided never to allow the ecologically sensitive land to be mined. He rather wants to see the land that is surrounded by the Kakadu National Park to become incorporated into the park.
"There are sacred sites, there are burial sites and there are other special places out there which are my responsibility to look after," Mr Lee told The Age.
Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory), Areva must get Mr Lee's approval at a meeting called by the Northern Land Council before it can start extracting the uranium.
In August 2005, the Government seized control of uranium mining from the Northern Territory, declaring the territory open for new mines.
But the Howard Government has always maintained that no new mine would be approved in the territory unless it had the approval of traditional owners.
The Government has told UNESCO, the world body under which Kakadu is listed as a heritage site, that it would agree in principle for Koongarra to be incorporated into the park if the traditional owners requested it.
(The Age July 14, 2007)
French mining company Areva has ruled out mining of the Koongarra deposit in the near future. Areva has been negotiating with the traditional owners through the Northern Land Council, but a spokesman at the company's Paris office says Areva has no plans to mine the site. By Australian law, every five years the company can ask the traditional owners if it can mine. So far the traditional owners have said no, and last year the moratorium was extended for another year. That has now lapsed, but a statement from Areva's head office says there are no plans to develop Koongarra in the near future because it is concentrating on new projects in Canada and Kazakhstan. (ABC May 9, 2006)
On May 27, 2005, Northern Territory Mines and Energy Minister Kon Vatskalis said he would not approve any application for a mining lease at the Koongarra site. He said the decision was based on the proximity of the deposit to the "iconic" Nourlangie Rock. The Federal Government could overrule the decision, however. (Northern Territory News, May 28, 2005)
On April 26, 2005, the day the moratorium on the development of the Koongarra uranium deposit ends, environmentalists called on the French government to abandon attempts to develop a second uranium mine in Kakadu National Park. French nuclear power company Cogema has said it will revive efforts to mine the multi-million-dollar Koongarra deposit. The environmentalists consist of the Environment Centre of the Northern Territory, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and The Wilderness Society. (Australian Apr. 26, 2005)
Cogéma will revive efforts to mine its Koongarra deposit once a moratorium ends in April 2005. Traditional owners, through the Northern Land Council (NLC), imposed the five year moratorium on mining the deposit. The deposit contains approx. 14000 t U3O8, and it is located 250km east of Darwin in world heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. (Australian Feb. 16, 2005)
The Aboriginal traditional owners of the proposed Koongarra uranium mine site in the Northern Territory have vetoed the development. The Northern Land Council says a full council meeting today resolved to refuse consent for Koongarra. (ABC News 4 April 2000)
> See also:
Uranium Exploration in West Arnhem Land , A Report for the Environment Centre Northern Territory and the Australian Conservation Foundation, by Gary Scott & Mark Wakeham, November 2001 (1.5MB PDF)
The Queensland state government policy prohibits uranium mining.
announced
they have reached agreement for the Farm-in by Dragon Energy Ltd of a majority interest in five Deep Yellow Ltd uranium projects located in Queensland.
victory at the 13 June 1998 state elections, the policy of the new Queensland government states that "Labor will not grant a mining lease for the purposes of mining uranium in Queensland. Nor will it permit the treatment or processing of uranium in the state." [UIC Weekly News Summary 17 July 1998]
> View deposit details: Ben Lomond · Maureen
has commenced a pre-feasibility study of its Ben Lomond uranium-molybdenum resource in Queensland, Australia, with a view to determining the project economics, the preferred mining and processing options and the key steps in mine development.
"The agreements relating to the purchases of the Ben Lomond Project and the Maureen Project in Queensland, Australia will be terminated effective November 4, 1998 and December 3, 1998 respectively. The Company does not intend to pursue these projects further because of a number of factors relating to the poor short-term uranium market, the difficulty in raising money for junior resource companies and the political environment in Queensland. This has changed, following an election, and is now not conducive to mining uranium. Accordingly, the Ben Lomond Project has been written off for accounting purposes as of August 31, 1998. The Maureen Project was similarly written off as of May 31, 1998." (Anaconda Uranium Corp., Oct 30, 1998)
> View deposit details
On Sep. 7, 2006, Paladin Resources Ltd became a majority shareholder of Valhalla Uranium Ltd.
Recent drilling at the Valhalla uranium deposit
in north-west Queensland has produced positive results. Owned
jointly by Summit Resources NL and project manager Resolute , the drilling
intersected U3O8 with grades exceeding 1.0% and indicated a
possible increase in the length of the mineralised zone to 600
meters from the 240 meters previously assessed. (UI News
Briefing 50/97)
The latest outcome from renewed exploration effort for uranium
is that Summit Resources NL and Resolute Ltd have doubled the
size of the Valhalla deposit, near Mount Isa. The overall
resource now comprises 29,000 tonnes U3O8, including measured,
indicated and inferred resources of 14 Mt of ore at 0.157%
containing 22,000 tonnes U3O8. (UIC Weekly News Summary 27 March
1998)
> View deposit details
On Apr. 17, 2007, Laramide Resources Ltd announced the completion of the scoping study. In the study, the mine is planned as an entirely open cut operation using conventional acid leaching and solvent extraction technology in the process plant. A mining and milling rate of 1.5 million tonnes per year at an average grade of 0.10% U3O8 for average annual production of 3 million pounds of U3O8 [1154 t U] was used in the scoping study. Production costs for a pound of U3O8 average US$ 19.02 for the first 6 years of the mine life, during which time the strip ratio will be 2.3 to 1. From year 7 onwards, the average production costs of U3O8 will increase to US$ 25.17 per pound as the strip ratio increases during the mining of the smaller Junnagunna and Huarabagoo deposits. Life of the mine will be greater than 11 years.
On Nov. 24, 2006, Laramide Resources Ltd announced that they have commissioned GRD Minproc Limited to complete a Scoping Study of its Westmoreland uranium deposit located in Queensland Australia. CEO Marc Henderson stated that "The Scoping Study will allow us to evaluate the economic potential of Westmoreland and should provide a development path forward for the project when the necessary policy changes are made in Queensland to permit mining of uranium." It is anticipated that the study will be completed in the first quarter of 2007.
The South Australia state government has a "no new uranium mines" policy.
wants to conduct soil tests near Yankallila on the Fleurieu Peninsula to explore for minerals.
(ABC Oct. 2, 2006)
> View deposit details
Alleged environmental contamination at the Mount Gee uranium deposit in the far north of South Australia are being investigated by SA Government and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Police have reported alleged contamination at drilling holes on the site. Marathon Resources is alleged to have wrongly disposed of resource samples at the site. (ABC Jan. 16, 2008)
> View deposit details
On Nov. 30, 2001, Minotaur Resources reported that drilling at its Mount Woods polymetallic discovery in South Australia's Gawler Craton confirmed major uranium mineralisation. The presence of uranium more than 450 metres below ground, with a grade of up to 1.6 kilograms a tonne, means comparison of Mount Woods with WMC's neighbouring Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold operation are more valid than ever.
Minotaur's discovery hole was announced on November 14. The first 450 metres of drilling included a 107-metre interval grading at 1.94 per cent copper and 0.65 grams of gold a tonne, but no uranium. A 57-metre interval from 450-507 metres returned copper/gold/silver/rare earths and uranium in significant amounts, including a 17-metre interval between 450 and 467 metres with 2.35 per cent copper, 1.07 grams of gold a tonne, 3.3 g/tonne silver, 0.66 per cent rare earths and 1.65 kilograms of uranium oxide.
Mount Woods is a joint venture of Minotaur (19 per cent owner and operator) with BHP Billiton, Normandy, Sons of Gwalia and Sabatica.
(The Age, 1 Dec 2001)
> View deposit details
WMC Ltd have announced the more than doubling of production at Olympic Dam (Roxby Downs) to increase annual capacity to
3135 tonnes of uranium by 2001. The company will apply for
environmental approvals for the proposed project plus a further
possible increase in production in the future. The mine draws
its water from the Great Artesian Basin and already has in place
approvals for drawing 42 megalitres per day, which will cover
anticipated needs. [UIC Weekly News Summary 19 July 1996]
WMC intends to increase Olympic Dam's output to approximately 8 million lbs
U3O8 (3077 tU) in 1999 and 10 million lbs (3846 tU) in 2000, on completion of the expansion project, expected in March. (UI News Briefing 1/99)
WMC released its Environmental Impact Statement of the expansion
on 12 May 1997: View WMC
announcement , background
info , EIS summary .
The EIS was open for public comments for a period of eight weeks.
In November 1997, Environment Australia published its Olympic
Dam EIS Assessment Report.
> View full text of assessment (146k)
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the
Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment
Assessment Branch notifications on the Olympic Dam Expansion project .
On 8 December 1997, the Minister of Environment, Senator Hill,
gave environmental clearance for the project
(press release 146/97 ).
The approval of the Minister of Resources and Energy, Senator Parer, is still pending.
> View deposit info
> See also: South Australia to assess environmental impact of acid in-situ leach uranium mining
> Download Honeymoon spill incident summary (PIRSA)
On May 15, 2008, Uranium One announced it has decided to suspend development activities at Honeymoon "to allow for evaluation of corporate development opportunities for the project". The Corporation's production guidance for 2009 had previously included 600,000 pounds of U3O8 [231 t U] expected to be produced from Honeymoon.
Uranium One has received full approval for its mining operations at the Honeymoon mine, north of Olary in far north South Australia.
The South Australian Government approved the company's mining and rehabilitation program 10 days ago, and now the state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given its approval to the mine's radioactive waste management plan and radiation management plan.
Approval comes with several stipulations and marks the beginning of mine construction, although the company will again go under review before production begins.
(ABC Jan. 21, 2008)
> Download SA EPA documents
The South Australian Government has given final approval for construction of the Honeymoon uranium mine.
Some conditions remain to be met by the company Uranium One, but production is expected to begin before the end of the year.
The mine is expected to produce up to 400 tonnes of uranium oxide annually using an acid-solution method.
The company forecasts the mine will have a life of up to seven years.
The Department for PIRSA approved the Mining and Rehabilitation Program, under the Mining Act 1971, for construction of the wellfield process plant and related infrastructure.
(ABC/Adelaide Now Jan. 11, 2008)
> Download Honeymoon Mining and Rehabilitation Program (PIRSA)
According to Uranium One executive vice president Australia and Asia, Greg Cochran, there would be around a three-month delay in the start up of Honeymoon in South Australia, expected to start in the second quarter of 2008. Originally the start up date was pegged for the first quarter of 2008. Cochran explained a different method of uranium recovery, known as pulse column technology, was behind the delay. Honeymoon will produce 880,000 pounds of uranium [338 t U] a year over a six year mine life. (MiningNews Aug. 9, 2007)
On Jan. 4, 2007, sxr Uranium One Inc. announced that the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Resources of Australia has approved Uranium One's request for a new Permission to Export Natural Uranium from the Honeymoon Uranium Project. The Export Permit has been granted for a period of ten (10) years, taking effect from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016, inclusive. Uranium One is looking forward to bring the project into production in 2008.
On Sep. 29, 2006, South Australia's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued Honeymoon owners Uranium One, through its subsidiary Southern Cross Resources, a licence for commercial mining operations. The environmental approval was the final step in the process for Uranium One to proceed with mining at the Honeymoon site in SA's far north-east. EPA chief executive Paul Vogel said the licence permitted the owners to mine and mill uranium by the acid in-situ leach mining technique. (Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Sep. 2006)
On Aug. 29, 2006, sxr Uranium One Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has approved the development of the Honeymoon In-Situ Leach (ISL) Uranium Project in north-eastern South Australia. The decision is based on a feasibility study prepared by Mayfield Engineering Pty Ltd. and others. This study reduced the uranium resource estimate by 12% to 2460 t U.
The Mayfield feasibility study examined the development of a commercial uranium ISL project with an annual production capacity of 400 tonnes of U3O8 (339 t U) and a total project life of between 6 - 7 years. The basic wellfield design will be based on '7-spot' patterns consisting of six injection wells arranged in a 20 - 60 metre hexagon, with a centrally located production well. Project commissioning is expected within 17 months.
> Download Summary of Feasibility Study, July 2006 (4.3M PDF - SEDAR)
On May 25, 2006, SXR Uranium One Inc. submitted an application to the South Australian Environment Protection Authority for a commercial licence to mine and mill radioactive ore at its Honeymoon Project, South Australia. The company already holds a Federal Export License and State Mining Lease 6109 over the Honeymoon and East Kalkaroo project area.
The company is in the final stages of completing a NI 43-101 compliant
feasibility study on the Honeymoon Project due to be completed in June 2006,
which will then be presented to the sxr Uranium One Board of Directors for
approval and a commercial production commitment decision in the third quarter
of 2006.
(SXR Uranium One Inc., May 25, 2006)
Public comment can be submitted until June 30, 2006.
> View related SA EPA documents
The South Australian Democrats say they are concerned by reports China is negotiating the purchase of a share in the Honeymoon uranium project, located in the state's north-east.
It has been revealed Chinese officials have held ongoing discussions with the mine's owner, Southern Cross Resources, who want the project to be fully operational by late next year.
(ABC Jan. 12, 2006)
SXR Uranium One Inc., however, denied that the Honeymoon project is for sale. (SXR Uranium One Inc., Jan. 12, 2006)
Following completion of an analysis of development options for its Honeymoon project, Southern Cross Resources Inc. has announced the decision to delay development of the project. (SXR Nov. 1, 2004)
Honeymoon uranium mine's owners, Southern Cross Resources, is yet to find financial backing for the multimillion-dollar project. The mine is in care and maintenance mode after trial mining ended at Honeymoon, about 400km northeast of Adelaide, almost three years ago. The project has secured a mineral lease from the State Government, and federal export approval, but has yet to gain a commercial milling and mining licence from the radiation protection division of the state's Environment Protection Authority. (The Advertiser 21 Mar 2003)
An obstacle has emerged to plans for the Honeymoon Uranium Mine in South Australia to move from trial status to fully commercial production: While the mine does have full Federal approvals, it does not have the necessary approvals from South Australia's State Government and that's sparked a new call from conservationists for the State Government to follow Labor Party policy and shut down the mine. (ABC Oct. 2, 2002)
On Feb. 11, 2002, Southern Cross Resources Inc. announced that its 100% owned subsidiary Southern Cross Resources Australia Pty has concluded and registered a Native Title Mining Agreement with the Adnyamathanha people. With this finalization of claims, the South Australian State Government has granted Southern Cross Resources Australia Pty the mining lease for Honeymoon.
On Dec. 5, 2001, Planning SA released the Assessment Report for the Environmental Impact Statement - Honeymoon Uranium Report
> Download announcement (Dec. 5, 2001) (PDF)
> Download full Assessment Report (5.3M PDF)
On Dec. 5, 2001, only one week after receiving final government approval for the mine, Southern Cross Resources confirmed an acid excursion that occured in 1999. The leach acid solution, which is injected into a bottom aquifer at the mine site to dissolve uranium ore, escaped into an overlying middle aquifer. (The Australian 6 Dec 2001)
On Nov. 28, 2001, the South Australian Government has given the final go-ahead for the Honeymoon uranium mine. The last hurdle to be cleared by the mine is native title talks, which Minerals and Energy Minister Wayne Matthew said were close to being resolved.
> View Minister's press release
On Nov. 26, 2001, the Federal Government gave the final go-ahead for the mine project: Federal Industry and Resources Minister Nick Minchin announced he would issue an export permit for the project.
> View Minister's press release (Nov. 26, 2001)
On Nov. 21, 2001, the Federal Government has given the final environmental clearances to the Honeymoon Uranium mine.
> View Minister's press release (Nov. 21, 2001)
On Feb. 1, 2001, Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill has decided that before he can make a final decision on the Honeymoon uranium mine proposal further detailed information is required on the hydrology of the Honeymoon aquifers. It is not clear yet whether the re-injection of waste solutions will have adverse environmental impacts.
> View Minister's press release (Feb. 1, 2001)
On 22 November 2000, Southern Cross Resources Australia released a supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) into the mine - which is expected to be assessed by the federal and SA governments by early 2001. The company had received 1,346 responses to its original EIS, released in August 2000.
> Download announcement of Supplemental EIS (52k PDF)
The Environmental Impact Statement for the Honeymoon mine has been publicly released on June 7, 2000. Public submissions had to be made by 2 August 2000.
> see Australian EIA Network Notification
> View Summary of the Honeymoon EIS
Legal action is taken against owners of Honeymoon uranium mine: The Adnyamathanha Lands Council is pursuing legal action against the Honeymoon Uranium Mine, because it claims the proponents have not sought permission from the traditional owners to mine the land. (ABC News 14 Feb. 2000)
On Nov. 11, 1998, Southern Cross Resources Inc. announced that the existing plant capable of producing 250,000 pounds of U3O8 (96 t U) per year will be expanded to increase U3O8 production to the rate of 1.1 million pounds (423 t U) per year during the third quarter of 1999.
The Draft Guidelines for an Environmental Impact Statement of the Honeymoon project were open for public comment until 3 November 1997.
> View Final Guidelines for EIS
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment Assessment Branch notifications on the Honeymoon uranium project .
A Field Leach Trial (FLT), which commenced in April 1998, was completed in August 2000.
Sedimentary Holdings NL has announced that it has reached agreement with MIM Holdings Ltd to acquire the Honeymoon and two adjacent uranium deposits in South Australia next to its own Chatfield deposits with a view to developing them. This brings together uranium resources of about 6800 tonnes U3O8 averaging 0.15% and amenable to in-situ leaching. [UIC Weekly News Summary, 14 Feb 1997]
> View deposit details
> View more recent issues
The Beverley uranium mine in South Australia's far north was officially opened on 21 Feb. 2001 (ABC News 21 Feb. 2001)
The Beverley Uranium Mine has now officially started commercial production. The mine is expected to operate at its full capacity of 1000 tonnes U3O8 per year by early 2001. (ABC News 3 Nov 2000)
31 protesters were arrested at the Beverley Uranium mine site on 9 May 2000. Between 40 and 50 people entered the Heathgate mining lease without permission and refused to leave. (The Age 9 May 2000)
About 10 protestors were arrested at the mine site on 7 May 2000. About 80 protestors were blocking the main entrance to the site. (ABC News 8 May 2000)
Six anti-uranium protestors have been arrested at the Beverley Uranium mine site on 7 Nov. 1999. The protestors were arrested after they allegedly tried to stop
construction at the mine. (ABC News 7 Nov 1999)
Five of the people arrested on 7 Nov. have been bailed to reappear at Port Augusta Magistrates Court on November the 16th, 1999. They were charged with trespass and obstructing a public place. They were given bail on the conditions they not re-enter the Wooltana lease nor go near the Beverley Uranium Mine. (ABC News 8 Nov 1999)
Construction at the Beverley uranium mine site in South Australia's north has begun with work starting on roads to the site as well as an airstrip. It is expected that construction on the well fields related to initial production will start from after the Christmas break and be completed by mid
2000. (ABC News 22 Sep 1999)
On 30 April 1999, Australian Industry, Science and Resources Minister Nick Minchin gave final approval for Heathgate Resources to proceed with its Beverley uranium mine in South Australia. Heathgate expects commercial production to begin in the second quarter of the year 2000, with production capacity of 1000 tonnes of U3O8 a year, and initial annual production of 500 tonnes.
> View Minister Minchin's press release of 30 April 1999
On 18 March 1999, Federal Environment Minister Hill gave the environmental approval for the Beverley project. He said he was now, after further assessment by the Australian Geological Survey Organisation , satisfied "that no hydraulic connection exists between the Beverley aquifer and other surrounding groundwater".
The final decision on the project has to be issued by Federal Resources Minister Nick Minchin. The South Australian State Government is set to grant the necessary mining licences within six weeks.
> View Assessment Of The Beverley Uranium Mine Proposal - Beverley Uranium Mine Environmental Impact Statement By Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd by Bureau of Rural Sciences, Land and Water Sciences Division (previously) Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Geohazards, Land and Water Resources Division, Canberra 1999
On 24 Dec. 1998, Federal Environment Minister Hill signalled the go-ahead for the Beverley project. Before issuing final environmental approval for the project, however, he requested some further tests on the project's likely impact on local groundwater. These tests are to show that the planned injection of waste liquids from the in-situ leaching operation into the Beverley aquifer won't endanger the surrounding groundwater. The tests should be completed within a few months. Upon issuance of environmental approval, Federal Resources Minister, Nick Minchin, would decide if approval is granted for the Beverley mine. (The Age/The Australian 25 Dec. 1998)
> View Environment Australia's Environment Assessment Report (133k) of the Beverley EIS (December 1998)
> View further supporting documents (Env. Australia)
> Download PIRSA Beverley Uranium Mine - Assessment Report: 150k PDF · 220k MS Word (Dec. 1998)
On 12 Nov. 1998, the government of South Australia announced that it has delayed the issuance of its environmental assessment of the Beverley project for one month. It is now being expected for early December.
During a public meeting held on August 7, 1998, Heathgate's project manager was forced to concede a spill that had occured on March 12 at the Beverley trial site. The uranium-bearing solution had escaped as a fine spray following the rupture of a pipeline carrying sulphuric acid uranium solution from extraction wells to the processing plant. ``It is estimated that the total loss was less than 500 litres over an area of about 50 square metres,'' he said. The contaminated site had been cordoned off – not cleaned up. (Reuters, Aug. 7 / The Australian, Aug. 8, 1998)
The new Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Beverley uranium mine was released for public comment by Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd on June 29, 1998.
The Supplementary EIS has been released on Oct. 3, 1998.
The Final Guidelines for an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed development of the Beverley Uranium Project were released in March 1998.
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment Assessment Branch notifications on the Beverley uranium mining project .
"At the Uranium'98 Conference, Heathgate Resources announced that the project's resources were almost doubled to 21,000t U3O8 at 0.18%, accessible by in-situ leaching. The current field trial is surpassing expectations. It consists of a 25m x 25m quincunx pattern of 4 injection wells and one production well with pump, delivering 75kg U3O8 per day to the pilot plant. Subject to its EIS and other approvals, production at 900 t/yr could begin in mid 1999." [UIC Weekly News Summary, 13 Feb 1998]
"A $5 million, 4-12 month field leach trial has begun at
the Beverley uranium prospect in northern South Australia. The
trial, using weak acid solution with oxygen, was approved by
state authorities as part of the environmental impact
assessment. Four injection wells and a single extraction well
are involved. The pH of the aquifer will be lowered from 6.3 to
about 3.5.
If the EIS is approved, Heathgate
Resources will construct a $25 million wellfield and plant
to produce 900 tonnes of uranium oxide per year by in situ
leaching. Some 11,000 tonnes of uranium is contained in ore
over an area of 4 km x 500 m, within a highly saline,
radioactive aquifer at 110-140 metres depth.
From mid January, some 30-50 kg/day of
U3O8 is being recovered in a small plant
as a by-product of the trial. It remains the property of the SA
government." [UIC Weekly News Summary, 9 Jan 1998]
The Bevereley uranium prospect in South Australia, owned by General Atomics of USA, is being proposed for development within three years. It would be an in-situ leach operation, with 6 Mt grading 0.27% U3O8 (16,200 t) resources, making it the largest Australian deposit of its kind. [UIC Weekly News Summary, 14 Feb 1997]
> View deposit details: Crocker Well · Mt Victoria
Sinosteel Corporation and Pepinnini Minerals Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enter a strategic alliance for the joint participation and co-operation in the development and operation of the Crocker Well and Mt Victoria uranium deposits and other commodities in the Curnamona Province of South Australia.
Subject to appropriate legally binding agreements and government approvals, Sinosteel will pay Pepinnini A$30.5 million for a 60% stake in the newly formed company that holds the project and tenements. Subject to the successful completion of a bankable feasibility study to develop the uranium prospects, Sinosteel shall enter into an offtake agreement for 100% of the projected output on normal commercial terms to underpin an appropriate level of project debt.
The MOU is signifcant in that it represents the first direct involvement of a Chinese company in the potential development of a uranium deposit in Australia.
(Pepinnini Sep. 13, 2006)
The Foreign Investment Review Board say they have no objections to China's Sinosteel Corporation acquiring a 60 per cent interest in uranium explorer, PepinNini Minerals Curnamona Pty Ltd. (The Sydney Morning Herald April 4, 2007)
The joint venture agreement between China's Sinosteel Corporation and Sydney-based Pepinnini Minerals Limited has been formalised at a ceremony in Beijing. (ABC Apr. 11, 2007)
> View deposit details
The Federal Government will not stand in the way of Curnamona Energy proceeding with its Oban uranium mining trial in South Australia's northeast.
Its Department of Environment and Water Resources has told the company the trial does not fall under the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Now only state approvals from the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA and local government authorities are needed to progress with the trial.
Curnamona chairman Bob Johnson said if the trials were positive, then further environmental and other approvals would be sought from Canberra "to allow us to mine and export uranium . . . at the same time we will apply for a mining lease from the SA Government and proceed as quickly as possible to production".
(Adelaide Now April 14, 2007)
On Feb. 14, 2007, Curnamona Energy Ltd. announced to commence a field leach trial at its Oban property. The planned key parameters of the field leach trial are:
> View deposit info
Traditional owners back more uranium mining: The chairman of the Adnyamathana Traditional Lands Association says he will support greater mining of uranium on his community's land. An affiliate of Heathgate Resources, Quasar, lodged an application last month for a mining lease just north of the Beverley uranium mine in outback South Australia. Vince Coulthard says while all the traditional Land is sacred, he must note the benefits from mining. (ABC June 25, 2008)
A native title applicant for the land surrounding the Four Mile uranium deposit in South Australia says she will not sign off on any agreement for mining to start. A member of the Adnyamathana community, Gillian Anderson, says she is seeking legal advice to help prevent what she describes as a devastation of sacred land. Ms Anderson has already been taken to court for not signing a lease for an extension of Heathgate's Beverley mine and says she will take the matter to court if necessary. But the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association say it is happy with the benefits the mines bring for its community. (ABC May 27, 2008)
An application has been lodged by Quasar Resources Pty Ltd, an affiliate of Beverley operator Heathgate Resources, to develop the Four Mile uranium deposit in South Australia. The mine at Four Mile would be about 10 kilometres north-west of the Beverley mine and use the same processing facilities. It is planned to be working by 2010 and employ 200 people. (The Age May 19, 2008)
On Apr. 28, 2008, Alliance Resources Ltd announced that project manager Quasar Resources is now planning to apply for a Mining Lease rather than a Retention Lease over the Four Mile project. A feasibility study consisting of the establishment of a mineral resource estimate at Four Mile East, and positive outcomes of hydrological and metallurgical studies, are anticipated to make redundant the previously planned field leach trial. This decision means that First Stage Mining at Four Mile is now scheduled to commence after grant of the Mining Lease (anticipated to be late 2009).
On Jan. 16, 2008, Alliance Resources Ltd announced the results of a Concept Evaluation Study for the Four Mile in-situ leach project.
Uranium concentrate production is proposed to commence in 2010, at a projected start-up capacity of 1.5 Mlb [577 t U] per year, potentially increasing up to 4.5 Mlb [1731 t U] per year production capacity.
A Field Leach Trial is scheduled to commence in June Quarter 2008 to assess the use of ISL at the Four Mile Project.
The Western Australia state government policy prohibits uranium mining.
> View deposit details
Paladin Resources is planning to exploit the Manyingee uranium deposit using the in-situ leaching technology. Once Paladin has confirmed the resource and carried out metallurgical testwork, it hopes to begin a feasibility study in the middle of 1999. The company is looking at making a development decision by about 2001. (Australian Mining Monthly Oct. 1998 )
> View deposit details
WMC has commenced remediation works at its Yeelirrie mine site in the North of Western Australia. The rehabilitiation plan has been developed with the approval of the State Mining Engineer and Radiological Council. Earthworks commenced on June 10th, 2004, and are expected to be completed in time for the revegetation work which will be completed by year-end to coincide with seasonal rains. (WMC June 18, 2004)
The Western Australia State Government has announced plans to terminate the Yeelirrie State Agreement that covers tenements 500 kilometres north of Kalgoorlie. WA State Development Minister Clive Brown says the holder of the tenements, WMC Resources, has agreed to stop mining uranium in the area and rehabilitate the land. The rehabilitation work will take place over the next six months, and WMC expects to complete its rehabilitation work by the end of the year 2004. (ABC Mar 31, 2004)
WMC said on 8 Feb. 2000 it would hand back the Yeelirrie uranium deposit to the WA Government if it failed to find a buyer in two years.
The company said it had spent $35 million at Yeelirrie, 75km south-west of
Wiluna. But weak uranium prices in the past year had made it difficult for
any new uranium project to get off the ground.
(The West Australian 9 Feb. 2000)
The Western Mining Corporation has admitted leaving the contaminated trial uranium mine of Yeelirree exposed to the public, with inadequate fencing and warning signs, for more
than 10 years. People used a dam at the site for swimming, which
was found to be about 30 times above World Health Organisation
radiation safety standards. (The Age, 10 July 1997)
> View related page of WMC Environment Progress Report 1996
> View deposit details
Aboriginal landowners are set to secure equity involvement in development of the Kintyre uranium deposit in Western Australia (WA) after its sale by Rio Tinto to Canada's Cameco and Japan's Mitsubishi Development in a ground-breaking deal worth $US495 million ($A515 million). Kintyre is one of the world's biggest undeveloped uranium deposits (80 million pounds of uranium now worth $4.8 billion in its finished form) but its development has been held up by WA's continuing ban on uranium mine developments. But the traditional landowners, the Martu people, will join the new owners to pressure the WA Labor Government to lift the ban. (The Age July 11, 2008)
On July 9, 2008, Cameco Corporation announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire a 70% interest in the Kintyre uranium exploration project in Western Australia for US$ 346.5 million.
A joint venture comprised of Cameco (70%) and Mitsubishi Development Pty Ltd (30%) purchased the Kintyre project from Rio Tinto for US$ 495.0 million through a bidding process. Cameco will operate the project and is funding its share of the purchase price through existing credit facilities. The transaction is expected to close in August 2008 subject to ministerial approval in Western Australia and execution of certain agreements with the Martu people who are the traditional owners of the land.
Rio Tinto has lost critical Aboriginal support for the proposed sale of its high-grade Kintyre uranium deposit in Western Australia, raising the prospect that it could face a legal challenge to its rights to sell the $600 million property to one of the uranium groups it is lining up as a buyer. Undisclosed offers made by Rio to the Martu people, the traditional owners, to win their support for the sale process are said to have been "embarrassingly low" given that Martu support is crucial to Kintyre, one of Australia's biggest undeveloped uranium deposits, becoming a mine. (The Age March 19, 2008)
Rio Tinto has begun work on a new pre-feasibility study - the first move towards reviving the project which stalled in the late 1990s. The pre-feasibility study, which will include drilling to develop a new resource estimate, is expected to take two years. It will build on a previous study carried out in 1991. (Herald Sun May 12, 2007)
Kintyre put on back burner. After being "slowed down" last year, the Kintyre project is being placed under care and maintenance. The project team will be disbanded at the end of the year and administration of the site facilities will be returned to Rio Tinto Exploration pending increased uranium prices. The project is at an advanced stage of development and with improvement in the market Rio Tinto could quickly bring it into production. Resources of some 36,000 tonnes U3O8 would provide about 2000 t/yr from a very small plant after radiometric beneficiation. Rio Tinto. [UIC Weekly News Summary 16 October 1998]
Canning Resources, a Rio Tinto subsidiary, has referred the
Kintyre uranium project to the West Australian environmental authorities
and has notified its intention to seek export approvals from the
Federal Government.
The scoping document proposes a 1200 t/yr
U3O8 production with the potential to
increase to 2000 t/yr. It envisages a capital investment of $120
million and annual revenue of $60-70 million. The total area
disturbed, including up to five small open cuts, will be about
three square kilometres (300 ha), with the treatment plant
occupying about six hectares. An additional 100 ha will be
required for infrastructure.
Tailings will be in two streams, both as filter cake which is
buried in mine workings. The first is a conventional residue
from acid leaching, containing most of the ore's radioactivity.
The second is mixed gypsum and iron hydroxide from an iron
precipitation stage. The other eventual waste will be some
evaporite from process liquors which cannot be recycled. There
will be no tailings dam. [UIC Weekly News Summary 21 June 1996]
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the
Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment
Assessment Branch notifications on the Kintyre project .
For opponents view, see Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia .
| HOME WISE Uranium Project > Mining & Milling > Issues > |