More impacts, more risk, more cost: ERAÂ’s uranium plan increases pressure on Kakadu.

Thursday, 27 September, 2007

by Dave Sweeney
Australian Conservation Foundation

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has warned that uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) plans to expand its controversial Ranger mine in Kakadu National Park could compromise the long term interests of both the Kakadu environment and local community.

ERA has today confirmed an extension to Ranger pit three, despite mining operations being halted in the pit following massive flooding in February.

“A bigger mine means a bigger set of problems for Kakadu and a bigger clean up cost for ERA and its parent company Rio Tinto,” said ACF nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney. “The existing Ranger mine is under pressure and under performing, and any new expansion will only increase the stresses and risks”.

The Ranger mine continues to experience serious water and waste management issues and has a long history of leaks, spills and incidents. ERA has had to declare force majeure* on uranium sales contracts until mid 2008 because of flooding and other production problems at the troubled mine.

“A deeper dirtier hole in our largest National Park is no cause for celebration. ERA should be cleaning up and exiting Kakadu, not making a bad situation worse by trying to wring every dollar out of this aging mine,” said Dave Sweeney.