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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
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Ranger 3
project still needs approval from the NT Resources Minister but the company said in an ASX announcement it was confident approval would be granted.
Positive scoping study announced for Angularli uranium deposit: On Dec. 10, 2018, Vimy Resources Ltd announced a positive scoping study for the mining of the Angularli uranium mining deposit. The study assumes an underground mine accessed via a decline and a mill using an acid leach process. The neutralised and thickened tailings are to be mixed with lime and cement and then pumped underground for backfilling into underground mining voids.
Vimy Resources acquires Alligator River Project: On Mar. 1, 2018, Vimy Resources Limited announced that it is to acquire Cameco's Alligator River Project. On July 17, 2018, Vimy announced the completion of the acquisition.
Australian uranium discovery threatens ancient indigenous cave art:
One of the world's biggest uranium producers has found a significant deposit in a remote tropical Australian mountain range near sandstone galleries holding some of the oldest and most spectacular rock art on the planet.
After years of drilling, Canadian-based mining company Cameco has reported the find in the Wellington Range, where the thousands of Aboriginal artworks adorning cliffs and caves include a painting of the extinct dog-like creature, the thylacine, made in a style that is at least 15,000 years old.
"The importance of this art site is that it's like a library," Ronald Lamilami, a traditional Aboriginal landowner in western Arnhem Land and a custodian for the art, told The Global Mail, which on Friday (Mar. 8) published a detailed feature and map of the rock-art sites at risk nationwide. Lamilami said he fears if mining goes ahead, the works of his ancestors will be damaged.
The archaeologist Prof Paul Taçon, who has worked with Lamilami to document and date the artwork, said that dust and visitors from mining exploration could potentially damage works at the Northern Territory's Djulirri, Malarrak and Bald Rock galleries.
(Guardian Mar. 8, 2013)
> See also: Rock Art Riches: The Devastating Cost of Australia's Mining Boom , by Debra Jopson, The Global Mail, March 8, 2013
Cameco finds "significant" uranium deposit in Arnhem Land:
Cameco Australia has announced it has discovered a significant uranium deposit near the Cobourg Peninsula in Arnhem Land.
(ABC Mar. 28, 2012)
The announcement was made on March 27, 2012, by Mark King of Cameco Australia during his presentation titled "Exploration for unconformity-style uranium deposits geology and mineralisation of the Angularli Prospect Wellington Range Project, West Arnhem Land" at the 13th Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES) in Alice Springs.
"Although the area has not been explored in the detail necessary for resource definition and modelling, intersections of 20.2 m at 5.2% U3O8 (including 0.5 m at 27.8% U3O8) not only confirms the exploration methodology, but ensures that the Angularli prospect, the Angularli trend, and parallel structures will remain a focus in Arnhem Land for Cameco through the foreseeable future." (from the abstract of Mark King's presentation)
Uranium Africa Ltd acquires Bigrlyi deposit: On Dec. 14, 2016, Paladin Energy Ltd announced that it has sold the Bigrlyi deposit to Uranium Africa Ltd.
Pre Feasibility Study for mining of Bigrlyi uranium deposit produces shaky result:
On June 17, 2011, Energy Metals Ltd announced that "the recently completed Pre Feasibility Study (PFS) identifies on a conditional basis, technical viability of the Bigrlyi project". "However on a discounted cash basis the project is marginal".
The study assumed a uranium price of US$ 80/lb U3O8 and an exchange rate of 0.85 US$/AU$, while current market conditions are much worse.
The project would involve the mining of Anomaly 4, 15, and 2 deposits using a combination of open pit and underground mining with acid leach processing for a mine life of approx. 8 years. Tailings would be stored in pit.
> Calculate Bigrlyi mine feasibility
China state-owned energy group CGNPC Uranium Resources hopes to acquire up to 70 per cent of Perth-based uranium explorer Energy Metals Ltd (the company which holds 53.7% of the Bigrlyi deposit). (Sydney Morning Herald Sep 8, 2009)
On Feb. 15, 2017, Core Exploration Ltd announced that it has secured an ELA (exploration licence application) over the Napperby uranium resource in the Northern Territory.
A full ore characterisation programme was completed [...] to determine the amenability of the Napperby ore to Marenica's proprietary U-pgrade™ [ore beneficiation] technology. The results from the ore characterisation [...] demonstrated a high degree of carnotite (uranium mineral) liberation, therefore also indicating a high propensity to upgrade through Marenica's U-pgrade™ process.
However, unlike Namibian calcrete deposits that can be processed by the technology, Napperby ore also contains dolomite which presents a small complication requiring amendment to the Marenica flowsheet to ensure its removal. [...]
The commercialisation of Marenica's U-pgrade™ process will likely be a key driver in making the Napperby Project viable in the foreseeable future.
(Deep Yellow Limited: EL 24246 Napperby Project Annual Report, 28 November 2013 to 10 October 2014, Nov. 2014)
On May 4, 2010, Toro Energy Limited announced that it will not be proceeding to exercise its option to acquire the Napperby uranium project in the Northern Territory. Toro has determined from the results of its Scoping Study and follow-up alternative development options that the current economics of the project, based on current long term uranium prices, do not warrant taking up the Napperby purchase option under the current terms with Deep Yellow.
On Dec. 16, 2008, Toro Energy Limited announced that URS Australia Pty Ltd has been commissioned to undertake a scoping study to determine viable development options for the Napperby Uranium Project, 175 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs in the Northerrn Territory.
The scoping study is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2009.
Nolans Bore deposit to be mined for rare earths only - EIS submitted:
On May 23, 2016, Arafura Resources Ltd announced the submittal of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Nolans project to the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority.
Arafura currently plans to extract only the rare earths contents of the deposit: "The deposit contains elevated concentrations of phosphate, uranium and thorium, averaging 11% P2O5, 190 ppm U3O8 and 2,900 ppm ThO2 respectively, although Arafura does not initially intend to commercially recover these elements. All three elements and the radioactive decay chain daughter products of uranium and thorium will report to tailings or process residues."
The public review period for the draft EIS ends on 22 July 2016.
> Download EIS: Arafura Resources Ltd · NT EPA
Jiangsu Eastern China Non-Ferrous Metals Investment Holding Company has entered an equity investment agreement with Arafura Resources. Under the proposal, the Chinese investment firm will inject more than $8 million into Arafura by acquiring up to 25 per cent of its final shares on issue. Jiangsu Eastern China Non-Ferrous Metals Investment Holding Company is a subsidiary of the East China Exploration and Development Bureau, a major mineral exploration, development and mining group based in the Jiangsu province of China. (Northern Territory News Feb. 25, 2009)
The draft guidelines for the Nolan's Bore environmental impact statement are open for public comment until November 17, 2008.
> View NT Govt. Nolan's Bore page
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.
Uranium recovery planned for Charley Creek Rare Earth Project: "The metallurgical treatment of the Charley Creek alluvial material incorporates two proposed main plants, a concentration plant at the mine site producing a heavy mineral concentrate of REO-bearing minerals together with ilmenite (Fe2TiO3) and zircon concentrates, and a refinery located closer to Alice Springs which treats the REO mineral concentrate to produce a mixed RE carbonate plus a small amount of uranium concentrate." (Charley Creek Rare Earth Project NI 43-101 Technical Report, December 2013)
The project is being opposed by the Alice Springs Angela Pamela (ASAP) Alliance , Stop Angela Pamela .
The campaign song "WIYA! Angela Pamela" (NO! Angela Pamela) is available from Super Raelene Brothers .
says whoever is elected to government should use powers under the Mineral Titles Act to force the surrender of the exploration licence.
"At any stage exploration could start up there," he said.
"What we really need is the minister to ask the company to surrender the licence because it's not going to go ahead, in their view, and then to protect the site."
(ABC Aug. 16, 2012)
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.
Areva suing Australian government over including Koongarra uranium deposit in Kakadu National Park:
French government-controlled Areva is understood to be planning legal action against the Australian government over a decision last year to veto mining at its multibillion-dollar Koongarra uranium deposit by including it in the Kakadu National Park.
The claim has the potential to open up the Commonwealth to a payment of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Last March, the Senate passed a bill reversing the exclusion of Areva's Koongarra uranium deposit from the Kakadu National Park, removing the possibility of future uranium mining there.
(Sydney Morning Herald Sep. 25, 2014)
Traditional Owner of Koongarra uranium deposit honored with environmental heroism award:
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) says a Northern Territory man it has chosen to honour with an environmental heroism award sacrificed millions of dollars to protect his land.
Jeffrey Lee this year won a long battle to stave off uranium mining companies by having his country, Koongarra, included in Kakadu National Park.
ACF spokesman Dave Sweeney says Mr Lee was under an incredible amount of pressure from all sides.
"He was offered, personally, multiple millions of dollars," he said.
"He stayed strong and staunch, and he stayed dedicated and persistent."
(ABC June 6, 2013)
Bill introduced to reverse exclusion of Koongarra uranium deposit from Kakadu National Park:
Today the federal government introduced a bill to repeal a law (the Koongarra Project Area Act) that could have led to uranium mining in Koongarra, effectively incorporating the area into the park.
Koongarra is within the boundaries of Kakadu but was excluded from the park in 1979 because of its potential uranium resources.
(The Australian Feb. 6, 2013)
The Senate on Thursday (March 14) passed a bill adding Koongarra to Kakadu National Park and protecting it from mining forever. (AAP Mar. 14, 2013)
Northern Land Council agrees to incorporate site of Koongarra uranium deposit into Kakadu National Park:
Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory is set to be expanded, with the inclusion of land previously earmarked for uranium mining.
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has agreed for a 1,200 hectare parcel of land containing rich reserves of uranium to be incorporated in to the park.
It is considered the final step in a long battle that Aboriginal traditional owner Jeffrey Lee has waged to protect his land from mining.
The council and land trust will now move to enter an agreement with national parks to incorporate Koongarra into Kakadu.
It is not known if Areva will attempt to take any action over the decisions.
(ABC June 1, 2012)
UNESCO includes site of Koongarra uranium deposit into Kakadu National Park's World Heritage listing:
After more than 30 years, the Koongarra area at the heart of Kakadu has made the world heritage list.
The World Heritage Committee announced on Monday (June 27) it had decided to include Koongarra - a 1228 hectare site with important indigenous links - as part of the Kakadu World Heritage Area.
Koongarra was originally excluded from the park in 1979 because of its potential uranium resources.
(The Age June 27, 2011)
> Download Mirarr release June 27, 2011 (PDF)
Areva tried to prevent nomination of Koongarra uranium deposit site for inclusion into Kakadu National Park:
A French government-owned company attempted to block countries discussing an Australian request to expand the World heritage-listed Kakadu National Park to include land that contains uranium worth billions of dollars.
Paris-based Areva, the world's largest nuclear energy company, wants to extract 14,000 tonnes of uranium from its mineral lease in the Koongarra area, which is surrounded by the park. But federal Labor made an election promise last year to incorporate Koongarra into Kakadu, removing the possibility of future uranium mining there.
Areva formally requested Australia to withdraw its nomination for heritage listing from the agenda of the 35th World Heritage Committee meeting, which will be held in Paris this week, The Age has learnt.
But the government rejected the request and has sent a six-member delegation to Paris to push the nomination.
(The Age June 20, 2011)
Labor government commits to protect Koongarra from uranium mining, if re-elected:
A re-elected Labor government would sign a deal that would prevent uranium mining from ever taking place on a parcel of Aboriginal land that is to be incorporated into Kakadu National Park, Environment Minister Peter Garrett says.
Mr Garrett visited the marginal Darwin-based seat of Solomon on Tuesday (Aug. 10), where he unveiled the Labor government's plan to expand Kakadu National Park to include a 1200-hectare parcel of land, situated to the east of Nourlangie Rock.
He said the decision had been made following a request by traditional owner, Jeffrey Lee.
(Sydney Morning Herald Aug. 10, 2010)
[A federal election is to be held on Aug. 21]
Traditional Owner wants land containing Koongarra uranium deposit to be added to Kakadu National Park: The world heritage-listed Kakadu National Park will be expanded to include thousands of hectares of ecologically sensitive land that contains uranium worth billions of dollars. In a generous act, the Aboriginal traditional owner, Jeffrey Lee, has offered the land to the federal government so that it can become part of Kakadu, where he works as a ranger. Mr Lee, the shy sole member of the Djok clan and senior custodian of the land known as Koongarra, could have become one of Australia's richest men if he had allowed the French energy giant Areva to extract 14,000 tonnes of uranium from its mineral lease in the area. (Sydney Morning Herald May 29, 2010)
Traditional owners in the NT's Kakadu region have decided to continue a ban on mining at the $5 billion Koongarra uranium deposit. Representatives of traditional owners, the Northern Land Council, Areva and the Territory and Federal governments met in Jabiru and Cooinda this week to discuss the future of the deposit. Traditional owners decided mining should not go ahead at the site. (ABC Feb. 28, 2009)
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)
Uranium mining in Queensland is being opposed by: Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance
announced that it has entered into a joint venture with the Japanese government resource entity Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) to invest up to A$900,000 in exploration over Bondi's 100% owned North Maureen Project in Queensland.
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)
Positive Scoping Study announced for Milo multi-element mine project:
On Nov. 22, 2012, GBM Resources Ltd announced a positive Scoping Study confirming a "strong commercial opportunity" at its Milo IOCG-REE Project: "The in-depth study highlighted that Milo has the potential to become a mid-tier producer of rare earth oxide products with key credits for copper, phosphate and uranium."
[The uranium concentration in the ore is just 60 ppm...]
> View deposit details
Paladin further writes down Queensland uranium properties: On Aug. 27, 2015, Paladin released its 2015 Annual Report announcing another US$ 229.1 million (US$ 180.8 million after tax) impairment on its Queensland exploration assets.
Paladin writes down Queensland uranium properties: On Feb. 13, 2014, Paladin announced an US$ 323.6 million (US$ 226.5 million after tax) impairment on its Valhalla and Mt Isa North properties.
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
Indigenous Land Use Agreement signed for Westmoreland Uranium Project:
On Nov. 29, 2022, Laramide Resources Ltd. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Tackle Resources Pty Ltd, has entered into an Indigenous land use agreement ("ILUA") and Ancillary Agreement with the Gangalidda & Garawa Native Title Aboriginal Corporation ("GGNTAC") for the Westmoreland Uranium Project.
Positive results announced for updated Preliminary Economic Assessment on Westmoreland uranium mine project - provided uranium price more than doubles: On Apr. 21, 2016, Laramide Resources Ltd announced positive results from the updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the Westmoreland uranium project. The PEA assumes a uranium price of US$ 65 / lb U3O8. Other than the 2007 PEA, the new PEA assumes an in-pit dry stacked tailings disposal scheme.
> Calculate Mine Feasibility
Updated Scoping Study/Preliminary Economic Assessment commissioned for Westmoreland uranium mine project: On Aug. 25, 2015, Laramide Resources Ltd announced that is has retained Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd to deliver an updated Scoping Study/Preliminary Economic Assessment on its Westmoreland uranium project in northwest Queensland. The new study is expected to be published early in Q4 2015.
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.
(NSW Division of Resources and Energy)
(NSWALC) application covers the Vales Point and Lake Munmorah power stations operated by Delta Electricity on the NSW central coast, and the Liddell and Bayswater stations operated in the Hunter Valley by Macquarie Generation.
A NSWALC source said there could be hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of exportable uranium contained in the dams.
(The Australian Nov. 20, 2012)
may apply for permits to explore for uranium because they now don't have to give permission for exploration on their land.
Natalie Wasley from the Beyond Nuclear Initiative is organising a protest next month, when expressions of interest for the permits close.
The far west is believed to be rich in uranium.
(PDF) (NSW Division of Resources and Energy)
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