Uranium exploration in a small South African town and in Alice Springs will be compared in new research by a South African university student.

Diedre Van Rooyen, from the University for the Free State, will draw parallels between the Australian desert region and a town called Beaufort West, where she's been studying the economic and social effects of urainium exploration on the town.

She says there are many similarities between the two towns, because a licence for exploration has just been approved near Alice Springs.

"I think Alice Springs would be an excellent example to be able to use," she says.

"Alice Springs is going through the exact same problems and issues that Beaufort West is going through because of the water issue, the dust issue, the health problems.

"Everybody's realised exactly thing as they have when they first about the prospects of the mine."