More uranium heads north
Nick Calacouras
NT News
Mine expansion to boost shipments from Port of Darwin
ONE of the world's largest uranium mines is set to increase the number of shipments through the Port of Darwin.
BHP Billiton's expansion of the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia will see the production of 1.6 million tonnes of copper concentrate and 19,000 tonnes of uranium.
The expansion will make Olympic Dam the most productive uranium mine in the world.
The ports in South Australia are believed to be unable to handle such large volumes of materials, forcing the company to send shipments north on the Adelaide to Darwin railway.
The Territory Government has not signed any transport agreements, but the company has listed Darwin as the preferred port.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport asked for public submissions to comment on the proposal before the release of BHP's environmental impact statement on the plan.
Environment Minister Alison Anderson has listed the transport of radioactive materials close to residential areas and the possibility of radioactive dust particles in the air as ``issues of concern''.
The uranium oxide concentrate would be transported by rail in sealed 200-litre drums inside of shipping containers, and driven by road to the East Arm Wharf.
The Olympic Dam mine already exports 30 per cent of its uranium through Darwin but the expansion will see the mine produce almost five times more.
It is not known how much more uranium would be transported through Darwin after the expansion.
The first shipment from the expansion would arrive in Darwin by 2016.
ONE of the world's largest uranium mines is set to increase the number of shipments through the Port of Darwin.
BHP Billiton's expansion of the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia will see the production of 1.6 million tonnes of copper concentrate and 19,000 tonnes of uranium.
The expansion will make Olympic Dam the most productive uranium mine in the world.
The ports in South Australia are believed to be unable to handle such large volumes of materials, forcing the company to send shipments north on the Adelaide to Darwin railway.
The Territory Government has not signed any transport agreements, but the company has listed Darwin as the preferred port.
The Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport asked for public submissions to comment on the proposal before the release of BHP's environmental impact statement on the plan.
Environment Minister Alison Anderson has listed the transport of radioactive materials close to residential areas and the possibility of radioactive dust particles in the air as ``issues of concern''.
The uranium oxide concentrate would be transported by rail in sealed 200-litre drums inside of shipping containers, and driven by road to the East Arm Wharf.
The Olympic Dam mine already exports 30 per cent of its uranium through Darwin but the expansion will see the mine produce almost five times more.
It is not known how much more uranium would be transported through Darwin after the expansion.
The first shipment from the expansion would arrive in Darwin by 2016.