Antinuclear

BHP reduces Yeelirrie’s proposed uranium by an ‘uneconomic’ third

BHP cuts Yeelirrie uranium estimate  Matt Chambers : The Australian  February 09, BHP Billiton has cut projections for its proposed Yeelirrie uranium mine in Western Australia by nearly a third, ruling out a heap acid leach component at the site as uneconomic.
Instead of a 5000 tonne a year mine that would rival the Rio Tinto-controlled Ranger in the Northern Territory as the nation’s biggest, BHP is seeking approval for a 3500 tonne a year operation, according to an environmental scoping document on the project.

In May, documents submitted to the federal Environment Department outlined plans for a 5000 tonne a year operation over 30 years at the deposit, 70km southwest of Wiluna in WA’s Northern Goldfields region.

It is understood the original plan had been to use both tank leaching and heap leaching to extract uranium from the ore. “Acid heap leach was discounted due to the high acid consumption, which made this option uneconomic,” BHP says in the scoping study, released for public comment as part of the state approval process.

Yeelirrie is yet to get environmental and board approval.

BHP cuts Yeelirrie uranium estimate | The Australian

February 9, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business, uranium, Western Australia | antinuclear, Australia, BHP, BHP Billiton, nuclear, nuclear costs, uranium