The Central Land Council has said it will support whatever decision traditional owners make about a potential uranium mine 25km south of Alice Springs.

Bit it will be late July before joint venture partners Cameco and Paladin even know whether their application for an exploration licence has been accepted.

The uranium mining companies were awarded first rights to apply for an exploration licence on the billion-dollar uranium Angela and Pamela deposits by the NT Mines Department on February 20, beating nearly 40 other companies including Chinese giant Sinosteel. The company lodged its application for an exploration licence in March, but must wait four months to give interested parties a chance to lodge objections before the licence can be granted.

Central Land Council director David Ross said the uranium deposits were on the Owen Springs pastoral lease, and it was a native title issue.

"A uranium mine is a controversial issue," he said.

Mr Ross said native title holders had no right to refuse an exploration licence under the Native Title Act, which they would have on Aboriginal Land under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act.

But native title holders could lodge an objection if Paladin was unwilling to negotiate over benefits such as employment or the protection of sacred sites, he said.

"The CLC has told traditional owners it will support them whatever their decision," he said.

Cameco NT regional director Jennifer Parks said the company supported the CLC's position.

"One of Cameco's core values is supporting the commmunity," she said.

"We will work with traditional owners and the rest of the community anyway with the benefits to be negotiated through the CLC."

Ms Parks said the company was going through old data and doing environmental work.

"The earliest it (the exploration tenement) can be granted is July," she said.

"So we won't be able to get on the ground until then. Getting hold of drill rigs isn't that straight forward in a boom, either."

The Angela-Pamela deposit has a general resource of about 30 million pounds, giving it a value of up to $3 billion.

If a mine were to be developed, it would create up to 1200 jobs.