Antinuclear

Cameco’s managing director enthusiastic about race to mine uranium in Western Australia

Reilly said. “There will be lessons learned from the events in Japan, and the market may take a breather. But the long-term fundamentals, we believe, are very strong.”…Kintyre’s approvals timeline pits Cameco against several other companies – including BHP Billiton – aiming to develop Western Australia’s first uranium mine.

Cameco pushes on with Australian uranium plans The Australian,  Stephen Bell   March 17, 2011 CAMECO Corp will push ahead with plans to gain approvals for its Kintyre uranium project in Western Australia by 2013, despite doubts over long-term demand for the nuclear fuel following radiation leaks at reactors in eartquake-hit Japan.

“We are targeting March 28 for the public filing of our environmental scoping document for Kintyre,” said Brian Reilly, managing director of Cameco Australia.

The latest filing will be used to help prepare Cameco’s more detailed Environmental Review and Management Plan, which the company hopes to release for public comment in the first quarter of 2012, Reilly told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview.

Speaking publicly for the first time since taking on his role two months ago, Reilly said that Cameco hopes to be “in a position with our partners to make a development decision” in 2013. Progress would be subject to market conditions, but Cameco remains confident in the long-term outlook, despite indications from some countries that they will cut back nuclear power generation in the wake of the Japanese disaster, he said.

“Countries like China, Russia, South Korea and India are absolutely committed to their nuclear programs,” Reilly said. “There will be lessons learned from the events in Japan, and the market may take a breather. But the long-term fundamentals, we believe, are very strong.”……

Cameco aims to produce between 6 million to 8 million pounds per year of uranium oxide concentrate over an anticipated mine life of 15 years at Kintyre in partnership with minority stakeholder Mitsubishi Corp of Japan. Kintyre’s approvals timeline pits Cameco against several other companies – including BHP Billiton – aiming to develop Western Australia’s first uranium mine.



March 18, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | marketing for nuclear, Western Australia