The Environment Centre NT today welcomes the decision by Rio Tinto and Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) to scrap plans to introduce acid heap leaching to their aging Ranger Uranium Mine near Kakadu National Park in Australia's remote Top End.

‘Kakadu has been spared the risk of acid heap leaching. This is a win for the environment, a win for the local community who opposed it, this is a win for everyone.’ Said Cat Beaton, Nuclear Free NT Campaigner at the Environment Centre NT.

The Ranger Uranium Mine operators majority owned by mining giant Rio Tinto scrapped the proposal at their board meeting yesterday. 

The proposal to use the untested and high risk method in Kakadu had been opposed by local community, shareholders, business analysts, national environment bodies and mining and environmental experts.

‘The public have made their opposition very clear on this issue, it seems that Rio Tinto and ERA have listened to the voices of the people and conceded that acid heap leaching in Kakadu was nothing more than a bad idea’.

The Environment Centre NT will continue to support Mirarr Traditional Owners and the wider Australian community to actively campaign for the protection of Kakadu, and will maintain close scrutiny on ERA and the Ranger Uranium Mine and the Ranger 3 Deeps proposal.

‘We will not be content until Kakadu is out from under the knife of ERA and Rio Tinto.’ Concluded Cat Beaton.