Rio Tinto’s Rossing uranium mine staring its terminal illness in the face
Rössing Uranium fights on for survival INFORMANTE BY FLORIS STEENKAMP 12 JUNE 2013 Rio Tinto Rössing Uranium incurred an operational loss of N$474 million in 2012, some N$10 million more than the losses the mine made in 2011. Despite this, the mine will continue to battle on and bolster cost savings and operational efficiency to ensure its long term survival.
This was the message of the outgoing managing director of Rio Tinto Rössing, Chris Salisbury, on 6 June Swakopmund.
Uranium mines globally continues to operate in adverse economic conditions…… Since Japan and many other nations started to shy away from nuclear power generation as the future of clean energy, uranium market prices plummeted by more than 36%.
Uranium mines globally continues to operate in adverse economic conditions…… Since Japan and many other nations started to shy away from nuclear power generation as the future of clean energy, uranium market prices plummeted by more than 36%.
At the Rössing mine not even a production output increase of 36% and drastic cost-saving measures could avert the 2012 losses, as this market dip was too severe….. Salisbury confirmed that he will be assuming another position in the Rio Tinto Group in Australia and said a successor would be sourced within months.http://www.informante.web.na/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12165:roessing-uranium-fights-on-for-survival&catid=1:coastal&Itemid=103
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Leichhardt City Council (Sydney) commits to 100% renewable energy by 2025
NSW council commits to 100% renewable energy by 2025 REneweconomy By Sophie Vorrath 13 June 2013 The council of the inner-west Sydney city of Leichhardt has committed to becoming 100 per cent renewable by 2025, building on its recent draft plan to tackle climate change by reducing emissions in local government facilities.
Leichhardt, which last year became the second council in NSW to achieve carbon neutrality, made the commitment last week – a goal it plans to achieve through direct investment in renewable energy, and without the need to purchase offsets.
Leichhardt is also one of eight Sydney councils – including Marrickville, Ashfield, Canterbury, Kogarah, Rockdale, Bankstown and Canada Bay – working with the Institute for Sustainable Futures to develop a renewable energy master plan for the region.
The master plan aims to identify the best ways to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, including solar PV, solar thermal, waste-to-energy, mini hydro, wind power and co/trigeneration. There is also the potential for alignment with the City of Sydney’s renewable energy plan.
As part of its own plan, Leichhardt aims to install a large amount of solar across council facilities, including the Town Hall and Balmain Library. A cogeneration plant is being constructed at Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre – the Council’s largest consumer of electricity. The plan also proposes retrofitting existing energy sources in facilities to be environmentally friendly.
Development of the city’s renewable energy plan is largely credited to the Greens councillors, who are said to have worked hard to gain the support of their Labor, Independent and Liberal counterparts. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/city-of-leichhardt-commits-to-100-renewables-by-2025#sthash.R3CtUtya.dpuf
South Australian wave energy project is progressing
Port MacDonnell wave energy project ‘on track’ ABD News 12 June 13, Wave energy company Oceanlinx says the construction site of its $7 million Port MacDonnell development is being prepared this week. A 20-square metre offshore concrete unit is expected to be connected
to the power grid by the end of the year and will power 1,000 homes in Port MacDonnell. CEO Ali Baghaei says equipment has started arriving at the site and construction workers have begun setting up.
He says people will soon see the development taking shape….. “We are very much keen to ensure it stays on track and thankfully it has beenon track and I’m very pleased with the progress we have made,” he said. “I must say we have received quite a lot of support from the local communities and I want to thank them all for it.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-12/wave-energy-firms-port-macdonnell-project-on-track/4748830
Mary Kathleen uranium mine – still toxic decades after closure
Remediation efforts continue at abandoned uranium mine Australian Mining, 11 June, 2013 Vicky Validakis Queensland officials inspected the abandoned uranium mine at Mary Kathleen last week, as part of an ongoing assessment of the site’s remediation status.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps announced last year, the government would assess opportunities for mining at the site, which contains millions of tonnes of ore tailings.……. A spokesperson for the minister said the inspection was not connected to an assessment of opportunities for future mining at the site.
The Mary Kathleen mine is under a Restricted Area 232 status, meaning exploration and production are both prohibited.
“Remediation and environmental management issues are critical factors for the Queensland Government to address prior to any future consideration about whether or not to release land from Restricted Area 232,” Cripps said.
Cripps said Abandoned Mine Lands program officers from the Department and the Geological Survey of Queensland would undertake field assessments later this month, including drilling at the tailings dam.
“This work will enable the Department to gain a better understanding of the current condition of the abandoned mine,” he said.
The Greens North Queensland spokesperson Jenny Stirling, said “toxic” tailings at the mine meant that uranium mining had made the site useless for other purposes.
“They are looking to mine rare earth and, if they had the good sense that God gave them, they would know that they would have to deal with the toxic tailings of uranium mining at Mount Kathleen,” Sterling said.
“It’s just a highly problematic situation.” http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/remediation-efforts-continue-at-uranium-mine
Australian uranium industry should be aghast at ever lower uranium prices
Sluggish uranium prices put pressure on industry http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/sluggish-uranium-prices-put-pressure-on-industry 11 June, 2013 Vicky Validakis With uranium prices hitting a four-year low last week, analysts predict a resurgence of the rare earth is not expected for 12 months.
The price of uranium fell below $40 a pound for the first time since 2009, to $39.87 a pound. Despite industry claims the demand for uranium would increase, prices have not pushed through the $45/lb mark since December last year. The West Australian reported low uranium prices is causing concern on local uranium juniors such as Toro Energy who are in the bid for partners to help fund the $269 million Wiluna project.
Toro have previously said if financing arrangements went to plan the mine would be in production by the end of 2015.
The $269 million Wiluna mine, is set to become Western Australia’s first uranium mine. With world energy demands increasing, last week Resource Minister Gary said the uranium industry in Australia needs to ramp up. Speaking to the Australian Uranium Association(AUA),Gray said with the demand for uranium set to rise, Australia was in the perfect position to supply them more of the precious metal.
However, some analysts now predict a turn-around in price is still twelve months away, leaving many asking if new projects will get off the ground.
A report commissioned by Greens senator Scott Ludlam into the economic viability of Toro Energy’s proposed Wiluna project, claimed the company may struggle to make the project viable. “The Wiluna project sits very high on the cost curve of global uranium projects,” the report’s author said.
“It’s difficult to see why any of the major uranium players would invest in this project when there’s a lot of cheaper projects out there.”
In 2012, production from Australian mines rose more than 17 per cent to top 8000 tonnes. However, the level is well below the period between 2003 and 2009 when it was 9000 to 11,000 tonnes. http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/sluggish-uranium-prices-put-pressure-on-industry
Fossil fuel and nuclear front groups rally on June 18 against wind energy industry
Windfarm industry fears consequences of Coalition turbine noise policy, Guardian UK Lenore Taylor, political editor, 12 June 13, “……The Coalition is under intense pressure from the anti-windfarm lobby and also from many of its own MPs to take much tougher action, either banning new windfarms entirely or abolishing the renewable energy target that provides the industry with an effective federal subsidy. It is promising a review of the Renewable Energy Target (RET).
The rally in Canberra on 18 June, which will be compered by radio broadcaster Alan Jones — he also hosted the rallies against the carbon tax — has the specific aim of pushing an incoming Coalition government towards a windfarm ban and scaling back of the RET.
It is the latest step in a six-year campaign against the alleged health impacts of windfarms, where concerns held by local residents have been strongly backed, organised and publicised by groups connected with the climate-sceptic Australian Environment Foundation (AEF).
In a 24 May emailed update to members, the AEF executive director, Max Rheese, reports that “over the last few months AEF has had a number of meetings with Coalition MPs at parliament with regard to windfarm health issues and the provision of renewable energy certificates to windfarms” and urges members to go to the anti-wind rally.
“AEF are assisting, but not organising the rally, however AEF members are urged to attend to join people from four states who are committed to attend,” the newsletter says, adding that “growing community and industry disquiet over the costs and effect of the mandated Renewable Energy Target is leading to calls for the revision or abolition of the RET now gaining political traction.”
AEF directors include prominent climate sceptic Bob Carter, lawyer Tom Bostock, who is also a director of the climate sceptic lobbying organisation The Lavoisier Foundation and Prof Peter Ridd, who acts as a scientific adviser to the climate sceptic Galileo Movement, has lobbied the Australian chief scientist for public funding for scientists seeking to make the case against anthropogenic global warming and has calledwarnings about the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef a “swindle”.
The AEF was set up in 2005 by the Institute of Public Affairs, the free-market thinktank, and in turn, has close links with the Waubra Foundation, named after the Victorian town that hosts Australia’s largest windfarm, and which supports local activists, who call themselves “landscape guardians”, and concerned citizen groups in many places where a windfarm is proposed.
The AEF, the Waubra Foundation and the grassroots “guardian” groups have worked together on many anti-windfarm campaigns, effectively applying pressure to the proponents, local members and state governments, while often passing under the radar of the national media…….http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/11/windfarm-industry-coalition-turbine-noise
Can’t have cheap clean wind energy causing fewer people to play golf, can we now?
King Island’s golf, turbine debate KING Island’s TasWind project is becoming a debate about golfing tourism versus wind energy, Weekly Times Now, Shannon Twomey | June 11, 2013 But the Cape Wickham project, one of the golf courses proposed for the island, is sick of being associated with the anti-wind farm movement.
The TasWind project is a 200-megawatt wind farm proposed for King Island by the state-owned company Hydro Tasmania, with voting on the project’s feasibility study currently taking place. There are two new, world-class golf course projects occurring on the island – Ocean Dunes and the Cape Wickham project.
Oceans Dunes director Graeme Grant stated his concerns over the TasWind project in April and Cape Wickham were labelled as having the same view point. Darius Oliver, a consultant for the Cape Wickham golf project has said that the company are frustrated by the fact that somehow the Cape Wickham project is associated with the anti-wind farm movement……
Mr Oliver’s frustration comes as the results from an independent study conducted by CH2M HILL, comparing growth forecasts for King Island both with and without the wind farm, were released.
The study factored in likely tourist numbers with the development of the two new golf courses and found significant growth would occur under both scenarios. However that growth was likely to be $36 million less with the wind farm in the period until 2044.
Friends of the Earth and Yes 2 Renewables spokesperson Leigh Ewbank said it was important to set the record straight, that only one of the golf courses is opposed to the TasWind project. http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2013/06/11/573268_latest-news.html
Sydney on the road to 100% renewable energy
A Renewables Powered Sydney Achievable http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3789 13 June 13, 100% of central Sydney’s power, heating and cooling requirements could be supplied by renewable sources according to a draft master plan prepared by the City of Sydney. The blueprint details how the city’s energy needs could be met by 30% renewable electricity sources and the remainder from gases derived from waste.
“This plan provides an invaluable road map detailing where all the renewable resources exist, how much it costs to harness them and how we can use them to help deliver a 100 per cent clean renewable energy system for Sydney,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
The City’s research identified ample waste resources within a 250 km radius of Sydney CBD to produce enough gas to meet the targets set out in the Master Plan. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green applauded the City’s initiative and progress to date.
“The City of Sydney has been a pioneer in championing the increased use of cleaner forms of energy such as solar, wind, bioenergy and trigeneration – a very efficient technology that produces power, heating and cooling from the one power source.”
“Local councils are the best equipped of all levels of government to deliver services that directly reflect the wants and needs of the population. Councils such as the City of Sydney are helping harness the enthusiasm of their residents to do things differently,” he said.
Also announced yesterday was an update of an energy efficiency drive by theCity of Sydney; which has seen savings of as much as 50 per cent from power and water efficiency retrofits in City buildings. “These figures show what a major difference can be made by retrofitting buildings. As cities are the greatest emitters of greenhouse gas, we need to make our buildings more energy efficient,” the Lord Mayor said.
The City has set a target to reduce its own energy and water consumption overall by 20 per cent compared to 2006 levels.
Examining rural communities’ attitudes to wind farms, in New South Wales
Wind co-op to study community attitudes http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-11/wind-co-op-to-study-community-attitudes/4745110 Melinda Hayter Jun 11, 2013 The Central New South Wales Renewable Energy Cooperative which wants to buy a turbine at the proposed Flyer’s Creek wind farm near Blayney, says it has a back-up plan if the development is not approved.
The windfarm application was lodged in 2008 and Chairman Pat Bradbery says the group will not be disbanded if the windfarm does not get the go-ahead. “The first is to look at another windfarm that has been approved and preliminary talks have happened about that,” he said.
“But we will then at the same time look at our other goals, which is that we really want to do what we can to increase the amount of renewable energy being used in the central regions of New South Wales.”
He says solar farms and an initiative where businesses can rent solar panels to reduce their energy costs could be considered. “Orange, Bathurst, the Central Tablelands in particular gets a quite a lot of sunlight and so solar energy is very do-able.
“Also this part of the country is high wind territory so it certainly has the natural resources that are required to produce renewable energy.”The co-op has received a $60,000 state government grant to be spent on a study into community attitudes on wind farms, and a series of seminars.
Mr Bradbery says the grant will pay for a study on community attitudes to windfarms being done by the University of Technology Sydney.”They’ve actually almost finished that.
“We’re just waiting on the final report and to run 10 seminars through the region, in which we will present the results of the research and also get feedback about what they think of wind energy.” Seminars will be held in Orange, Bathurst, Lithgow, Cowra, Parkes, Forbes and Mudgee over the next two months.
Liberal Coalition in the grip of front groups opposing wind energy
Windfarm industry fears consequences of Coalition turbine noise policy, Guardian UK Lenore Taylor, political editor, 12 June 13, Firms say they face crippling costs if forced to monitor in ‘real-time’ noise some blame for health problems The Coalition will impose new noise monitoring rules on windfarms that the multibillion dollar industry says will inflict crippling costs, provide no useful information and represent another victory for an anti-noise campaign by concerned citizens backed in part by the climate sceptic lobby.
The yet-to-be-released resources policy is set to require all windfarms to provide “real-time” noise monitoring, with the findings immediately publicly available, so nearby residents concerned about the alleged health impact of windfarms can compare the results with strict state government noise controls. The Coalition resources spokesman, Ian Macfarlane, will also try to introduce the measures before the election with a private members bill.
People living close to windfarms have reported symptoms including headaches, sleeplessness and nausea. Several residents experiencing the symptoms have given evidence at inquiries, but a recent study by Prof Simon Chapman of Sydney University found incidence of the sickness was far more prevalent in communities where anti-windfarm lobbyists had been active and suggested it might be a psychological phenomenon caused by the belief that turbines make people sick. “As anti-windfarm interest groups began to stress health problems in their advocacy, and to target new windfarm developments, complaints grew,” said Chapman. Continue reading
Australian uranium industry’s new propaganda – rubbishing fear of radiation
Industry leaders claim uranium mining held back by fear, Mining Australia 6 June, 2013 Vicky Validakis Addressing the fear of the uranium industry was the central theme of a uranium conference held in Adelaide last month, with industry leaders speaking out against campaigns that they say have choked the development of industry…… AUA chief executive Michael Angwin said the local industry has been politically choked by fear…… we should use that impetus to also reform the overweight regulation of and the approvals process for new uranium mines in Australia.”…..
“In short, we have entered the political end-game for uranium and any remnant political fears about the industry cannot be justified against the sector’s 40 year track record.”….
Greens nuclear policy spokesman Scott Ludlam said selling uranium to India would be ‘mistake’.
“I’m extremely concerned that Australian uranium will find itself one way or another fuelling a sub-continental arms race,” he said at the time……..http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/features/industry-leaders-claim-uranium-mining-held-back-by
Climate change will bring floods to Northern Australia and Tasmania
Scientists predict more major floods in northern Australia, Tasmania http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/scientists-predict-more-major-floods-in-northern-australia-tasmania-20130609-2ny8i.html#ixzz2Vr2IPs2u June 10, 2013 Tom Arup Major floods will occur more frequently in many parts of the world, including Australia, as the planet warms due to climate change, exposing millions more people to the threat, scientific modelling has found.
The projections by University of Tokyo researchers, using 11 global climate models, found areas most at risk were south-east Asia, most of India, eastern Africa and the northern Andes in South America.
More moderate increases in risk were forecast for northern Australia and Tasmania. But the threat of major floods would decline in northern and eastern Europe, central Asia, central North America and southern South America.
The researchers studied the likely frequency of floods in 29 international river basins, including the Murray-Darling.
The team found that if average global temperatures rise 2 degrees – a level scientists say gives the world a good chance of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change – 27 million people would be exposed to flooding, based on 2005 populations.
Australian public brainwashed into climate scepticism, by Murdoch media?
Sceptics put heat on climate change BY:DAVID UREN, The Australian, June 10, 2013
CLIMATE change sceptics outnumber believers, according to an OECD study that shows how the debate has sharply divided Australians
The study into household attitudes towards the environment shows Australians are more sceptical than any of the other 10 nations examined, with the exception of The Netherlands… (subscribers only) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/sceptics-put-heat-on-climate-change/story-e6frg6xf-1226660995986
Regional Australia’s Renewables (IRAR) programs- will halve remote area’s electricity costs
In fact, the cost of diesel generation – sometimes more than $400/MWh – is probably closer to four times the cost of wind energy than two times, and is well above the cost of solar PV. Many developers of solar plants – be it solar PV or new technologies such as solar thermal or graphite blocks – are targeting remote regions because of the high costs of diesel,
ARENA targets 150MW in remote renewables program http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/arena-
targets-150mw-in-remote-renewables-program-38423 By Giles Parkinson 7 June 2013
Financial benefits of solar power leading South Australians to make the switch
Households in South Australia are increasingly turning to solar power to alleviate or even obliterate energy bill woes. National solar energy provider Energy Matters estimates a good quality solar power system installed in Adelaide can return a financial benefit of between $1,502 – $1,711 annually.
South Australian Electricity Prices Biting Hard http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3784, 10 June 13 The last 6 months of 2012 saw a substantial increase in the number of SA households turning to electricity instalment plans and joining electricity retailer hardship programs says the Essential Services Commission of South Australia. Continue reading
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