TONY EASTLEY: The Australian company that produces 10 per cent of the world's uranium is under increasing pressure by Aboriginal traditional owners to shut up shop.

The Mirarr people own the section of the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park that includes the Ranger uranium mine operated by Energy Resources of Australia.

Just days before ERA's annual general meeting a scientist, who used to work for the company, says a threat of contaminated water leaking from Ranger into nearby waterways could keep the mine closed for the rest of this year.

Michael Coggan reports.

MICHAEL COGGAN: The Ranger uranium mine has operated on a lease inside the heritage listed Kakadu National Park for 30 years.

The mine owner Energy Resources of Australia suspended operations at Ranger in January because a big wet season has swollen the mine's tailings dam to near capacity.

At a public forum in Darwin last night the senior traditional owner of the mine site, Mirarr woman Yvonne Margarula, expressed her concerns about poor water management and potential downstream environmental damage if ERA continues mining at Ranger.

YVONNE MARGARULA: Ranger uranium mine, that on like the more mining and we still say no - no more mining.

(Applause)

MICHAEL COGGAN: Geoff Kyle is an industrial chemist who worked for ERA before being employed by the Mirarr people.

He told the forum organised by the Northern Territory Environment Centre there's no way the company will be able to safely treat the contaminated water stored at Ranger by the time the mining lease expires in 10 years.

GEOFF KYLE: They have facilities to remediate water through chemical water processing, ends up with micro-filtration and osmosis and it is top shelf stuff but it can only do a couple of megalitres a day and they have got 10 gigalitres. We are terrified that this is going to ruin our country.

MICHAEL COGGAN: The company is due to make an announcement next week about whether the mining suspension will continue. Geoff Kyle believes the mine will remain closed well beyond three months.

GEOFF KYLE: The facts are that the pit has already got a big mob of water in it and I can't see Ranger getting started again this year.

MICHAEL COGGAN: The traditional owners are repeating calls for Ranger to be shut down permanently in the lead up to ERA's annual general meeting next week. They also oppose the company's plan to use an acid leaching process to increase production and the construction of a new exploratory mine shaft.

The company's chief executive Rob Atkinson wasn't available for comment about the latest pressure or Yvonne Margarula's declaration that she wants the nearby Jabiluka uranium lease incorporated into Kakadu National Park.

But in an interview earlier this week he emphasised moves to improve the management of contaminated water at Ranger.

ROB ATKINSON: I mean you go through a wet season like we have done, it does cause you to think, to assess, to work out how you can do things better, safer.

TONY EASTLEY: ERA chief executive, Rob Atkinson ending that report from Michael Coggan.