Antinuclear

BHP Billiton’s coy silence about Olympic Dam uranium mining

Missing from BHP Billiton’s  announcement was any mention of the fact that, by the time Olympic Dam  reaches full production (and the time frame for what is proposed to be a four stage expansion remains highly uncertain) it will be the world’s biggest uranium producer…..

Silent on uraniumThe Australian Matthew Stevens March 31, 2011 “……. FUKUSHIMA’S nuclear shadow seems to have reached all the way to BHP Billiton headquarters in Melbourne, with the Global Australian yesterday confirming Olympic Dam’s move into full feasibility, but remaining cautiously mute about what that might mean for the future giant’s uranium production.

In announcing what is an indicative and important change of project status for Olympic Dam, BHP noted the proposed expansion would eventually increase copper production from the current 180,000 tonnes a year to an impressive 750,000 tonnes annually.

Missing from the announcement was any mention of the fact that, by the time OD reaches full production (and the time frame for what is proposed to be a four stage expansion remains highly uncertain) it will be the world’s biggest uranium producer…..
There is a case to be had that OD is the biggest mineral discovery ever made (now just nudging out Russia’s Norilsk nickel deposit). More certain, though, is OD’s claim as the world’s biggest uranium deposit (it is at least four time bigger than anything else around). And the expansion project is expected to increase uranium production from 4000 tonnes a year to 19,000 tonnes a year, which represents just less than a third of the current global production….”
Joyce rolls up sleeves in union fight | The Australian

March 31, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets and lies, South Australia, uranium | secrets and lies, South Australia