The Australian Greens have called for the release of a report prepared for the Office of the Scientific Scientist about an overseas uranium mine with reported high levels of uranium in surrounding drinking water.

The revelation came during estimates questions to Supervising Scientist Mr Alan Hughes, about a proposed expansion to uranium mining operations at the Ranger mine in Kakadu, by Australian Greens Spokesperson on nuclear issues Scott Ludlam.

Mr Hughes revealed his office sent two investigators to assess the use of heap leaching in a similar operation at the Caetité uranium mine in Brazil.

Independent assessment of drinking water samples by a UK laboratory for Greenpeace, showed uranium levels at Caetité as much as seven times higher than World Health Organisation’s recommendations.

“Given that the Office of the Supervising Scientist is a government agency and those officers were sent at public expense, I don’t understand why the findings from their visit to the Brazil can’t be made public,” Senator Ludlam said.

“Could it be because the findings might be uncomfortable? Anything that sheds light on the impacts of current and expanded uranium mining at Kakadu should be in the public domain. We need to know exactly how this document will inform authorities about the proposal for expanded uranium mining in Kakadu.