Antinuclear

Time for ERA to shut down Ranger uranium mine

“It is time for ERA to end its increasingly ill-considered and desperate expansion plans and start a measured, costed and comprehensive clean up and exit from Ranger. Twelve weeks is a start, but the unique Kakadu environment needs more than a three month reprieve.”

Dave Sweeney 29 Jan 2011, The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed today’s confirmation of the suspension of mineral processing operations at Energy Resources of Australia’s troubled Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu.  Ranger continues to be dogged by operational problems, including unresolved seepage from the tailings dam and the planned twelve week suspension seeks to reduce pressure on the under-performing tailings dam.

The suspension follows a formal announcement by ERA to the ASX today outlining of a fall in profit of over 80 per cent for 2010 and reduced ore reserves at the mine.“Ranger is running out of credit, time and excuses,” said ACF’s Dave Sweeney.

“This aging operation has hit the point of diminished returns and increased environmental impact. “ERA is facing increased market scrutiny over its performance and now needs increased scrutiny from government and regulators. The company needs to get its existing operations in order instead of trying to fast track a mine expansion that includes the unproven and polluting acid heap leach processing method.

“ERA’s planned expansion of the already over-stretched and under-performing Ranger mine adds considerable delay, cost and complexity to the final closure and rehabilitation of the site and poses a growing threat to the environmental and cultural values of the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park,” Mr Sweeney said.

“It is time for ERA to end its increasingly ill-considered and desperate expansion plans and start a measured, costed and comprehensive clean up and exit from Ranger. Twelve weeks is a start, but the unique Kakadu environment needs more than a three month reprieve.”

Dave Sweeney:  0408 317 812

January 29, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Northern Territory