Antinuclear

ERA’s uranium plan: Ranger 3 Deeps deposit beneath Pit 3 – could they diddle the Aborigines?

 Christina Macpherson 25 Jan 13, It all looks good, that the Mirrar Aboriginal people people have at last got  a fairer deal with ERA concerning their long struggle, first against, uranium mining at the Ranger site, and then to get a better deal.

The  senior traditional owner of the Mirarr clan, the very highly respected Ms Yvonne Margarula, has welcomed the agreements.

These agreements do not include ERA’s new project , underground mining at Ranger 3 Deeps deposit beneath Pit 3.

This situation needs careful watching.  Is the new agreement part of a softening up process by the uranium mining company, as they plan to get acquiescence from the Aboriginal people for the this next project.

It has been done before – that uranium miners have chosen to mine underground, in order to avoid the responsibility of native title issues on the surface.  When they do a big shaft entry, they expand underground without involving the native title holders.  a big shaft entry, they expand underground without involving the native title holders. They have been able to convince the Aboriginal owners that  “the crown owns the minerals”.

ERA has recently been dealing with 30 years accumulation of radioactive waste water, at Ranger.

ERA could be  a bit desperate – as recent economic history has not been kind to them    In 2012  “From a share price of $18.22 in May 2009, the stock lost more than 90 per cent of its value to be languishing at $1.15 earlier this year, with the company’s future being seriously questioned. …. The goal of turning ERA into an underground miner won’t come to fruition before late 2015, and there will be myriad environmental, indigenous, government and company approvals to satisfy before then. ” http://www.smh.com.au/business/kakadus-miner-for-all-seasons-20120427-1xqg2.html#ixzz1tNGNVJGh

January 25, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Northern Territory, uranium