South Australia’s massive Olympic Dam dream down the toilet

Analysts had calculated the expansion would have cost BHP close to US$30 billion over several years as it developed a pit more than 4 kilometers long, 3.5 kilometers wide and 1 kilometer deep…. the plans had also envisaged the construction of a desalination plant, new port andairport facilities and expanded work accommodation.

BHP Gives South Australia No Guarantees For Olympic Dam Fox Business September 03, 2012 Dow Jones Newswires BHP Billiton (BHP) Chief Executive Marius Kloppers in a meeting Monday could provide no revised schedule, or guarantees, to the state premier of South Australia for the expansion of the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine…

.. The Anglo-Australian mining company last month scrapped a multi-billion plan to greatly expand its existing
underground operation, and said it would instead investigate less capital-intensive options as it struggles with rising costs and a
slump in commodity prices. The company said it wouldn’t approve any
new major project until at least mid-2013.
Mr. Weatherill during a televised media briefing in Adelaide said Mr.
Kloppers indicated the company was looking to incorporate chemical
leaching technology to extract ore instead of using a smelter, as well
as incorporating a conveyer-belt system in a narrower, steeper
open-pit mine than previously planned.
Mr. Weatherill said Mr. Kloppers hadn’t asked for an extension to
environmental or royalty agreements the company had secured from the
state government. The pacts might need to be revisited given the
existing plans had been shelved, the premier added….. Analysts had calculated the expansion would have cost BHP close to US$30 billion over several years as it developed a pit more than 4 kilometers long, 3.5 kilometers wide and 1 kilometer deep…. the plans had also envisaged the construction of a desalination plant, new port andairport facilities and expanded work accommodation. http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/09/03/bhp-gives-south-australia-no-guarantees-for-olympic-dam/#ixzz25XHEiYR6

September 4, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business, South Australia, uranium

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1.This month.

The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.

The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.

Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items