The Environment Centre NT warns that increased Chinese investment in uranium operations threatens to undermine federal commitments to improved environmental management and control over weapons proliferation.

A recent move by the China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation would see the state-owned company take a controlling interest in the Energy Metals uranium project at Bigrlyi.

This move follows a recent trial shipment of yellowcake to China from the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park. Increased Chinese interest in Australian mining assets has already drawn criticism from Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce.

The Environment Centre NT said today that Chinese participation in uranium mining may bypass commitments to improved environmental standards, and risks jeopardising international efforts to control weapons proliferation and achieve nuclear disarmament.

"Australian controls on uranium exports are being weakened to encourage Chinese investment. Until recently, export of Australian uranium to China was prohibited," said Justin Tutty.

"And with good reason. Despite being one of a number of nations that openly hold nuclear weapons of mass destruction, China have yet to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We are often told that Australia's role as an exporter gives us powerful influence over nations who want our uranium, but rather than exerting that influence, we're bending over backwards to hand over more Aussie uranium to nations that continue to build more nuclear weapons.”

Mr Tutty warns that not only weapons controls but also environmental objectives have been sacrificed for trade with China.

"Federal Labor tried to sweeten their uranium policy back-flip with assurances of improved environmental management and World's Best Practice."

"But now we witness the Federal Government considering weakening our export controls even further to allow BHP to send a train a day of uranium-bearing concentrate from Olympic Dam in South Australia, up through the length of the Territory to be shipped to China – a real low in environmental management around uranium."

"In this context of weakening export controls, and no advancement in environmental regulation, today's announcement by Energy Metals fits the trend of uranium expansion at the expense of meeting commitments and community expectations for environmental management and weapons control."