FEDERAL Environment Minister Peter Garrett yesterday reiterated his support for an expansion of uranium mining.

The former anti-nuclear demonstrator has two big decisions to make on uranium mining in the Territory.

Energy Resources of Australia wants to set up a heat leaching operation at its Ranger operation near Jabiru, and Adelaide-based resources company Uranium Equities wants to reopen the old Nabarlek mine in western Arnhem Land.

Mr Garrett, who was photographed by the Northern Territory News in 1998 demonstrating against the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu, said he supported a "sustainable uranium mining sector" run according to the world's best environmental practice.

But he did not back further processing of uranium or a nuclear power industry in Australia.

Mr Garrett voted against a change in Labor's discarded three-mines policy but was obliged to support the decision as a Cabinet Minister.

He has approved an expansion of the Beverley uranium mine in northern South Australia.

Beverley's so-called in situ leaching technique turns uranium oxide into slurry by using sulphuric acid.

Ranger also wants to use acid to extract up to 20,000 tonnes of low-grade uranium oxide from stockpiles.

Conservationists say the acid would threaten Kakadu's wetlands.

The miner says the technique has been used elsewhere with no ill effects.

Nabarlek yielded 570,000 tonnes of uranium concentrate between 1979 and 1988.