BHP’s uranium mine to miss deliveries
BHP Declares Force Majeure on Olympic Dam Contracts By Brett Foley Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) –– BHP Billiton Ltd. declared force majeure on some supply contracts after the closure of a shaft at Australia’s Olympic Dam, the world’s largest uranium deposit and the fourth-biggest copper lode.
The Australian company has told affected customers of the disruption to shipments, London-based spokeswoman Bronwyn Wilkinson said today in an e-mailed statement.
Force majeure is a legal clause allowing a company to miss deliveries because of circumstances beyond its control.
BHP, the world’s largest mining company, is still investigating damage caused by a mechanical failure to the hoist system at the mine’s Clark shaft two weeks ago.
BHP Declares Force Majeure on Olympic Dam Contracts (Update1) – Bloomberg.com
Olympic Dam uranium mine jobs at risk
Workers fear lay-offs as they wait for repairs
Sydney Morning Herald BARRY FITZGERALD
October 15, 2009
There have been no lay-offs among the 3000 employees and contractors at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine in South Australia after the loss of 80 per cent of the underground mine’s hoisting capacity.
But with speculation continuing that the Clark shaft could take up to six months to repair, fears are growing in the outback town that services the mine, Roxby Downs, that BHP could soon be forced to resort to a skeleton workforce.
BHP is still not commenting on the likely impact of the October 6 incident and will not confirm reports that the 850-metre Clark shaft was knocked out of action when a fully loaded ore skip crashed. Automated ore-loading equipment at the bottom of the shaft and winding gear – including a four-kilometre cable – on the surface were damaged………….Leading analysts have tipped that the Clark shaft could be inoperative for between two and six months. The Clark shaft accounts for about 80 per cent of the 10 million tonne-a-year mining operation. http://www.smh.com.au/business/workers-fear-layoffs-as-they-wait-for-repairs-20091014-gxic.html
BHPB sets policy for Federal govt, as well as for South Australia’s
We knew that BHP pretty much dictated the policies of the South Australian government – most clearly shown in the Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) Act 1982 (Indenture Act). which provides BHP Billiton the legal authority Continue reading
Review: opinion polls, BHP, Greens, and nuke-hype
Review of the week that has been. In Australia, 2 opinion polls – one showing that women are 4 times more opposed to nuclear power than are men. One showing that 49% of Australians think that the govt should consider nuclear power, and 43% are conmpletely opposed to it. (Hardly a ringing endorsement of nuclear power!).
BHPB rushing ahead with uranium mine in WA, with the help of an outdated, and too narrow assessment process. BHP B keeping quiet about a prolonged shutdown of Olynpic Dam uranium mining (at 20% capacity) following an accident.
Greens come up wilh a forward-looking plan for the government’s Emiisions Trading Scheme.
Gareth Evans aiming to get “peaceful” nuke power into the Non-Prolifertaion Treaty. Meanwhile, overseas, US senators John Kerry and Lindsay Graham try to get nuclear into US Climate Bill. France’s nuke salesman, Sarkozy, spruiking everywhere (Bulgaria this week, Australia when?)
BHP Billiton’s uranium mining is above the law
Olympic Dam expansion: above the law? On Line Opinion By Peter Burdon 9 October 2009 In the heart of the South Australian outback, rests the Olympic Dam mine, owned and operated by BHP Billiton. Continue reading
Narrow assessment will allow BHP’s uranium mine to go ahead
Public inquiry not possible on uranium mining
Perth Now
October 09, 2009
ENVIRONMENT Minister Donna Faragher has today ruled out holding a public inquiry into BHP Billiton’s proposal for a $17 billion uranium mine in WA. Continue reading
Olympic Dam – 80% out of action for 6 months?
Olympic Dam accident threatens output THE AUSTRALIAN Matt Chambers | October 09, 2009
BHP Billiton’s giant Olympic Dam underground mine could be running at just 20 per cent capacity for up to six months, analysts say, after a loaded iron skip plummeted to the bottom of the 800m-deep main shaft. Continue reading
BHP Billiton tight-lipped about virtual shut-down of Olympic Dam
Accident slashes Olympic Dam output – THE AUSTRALIAN Matt Chambers | October 08, 2009
BHP Billiton’s giant Olympic Dam underground mine in South Australia could be running at less than half capacity for months after a mechanical failure sent a full load of ore plummeting to the bottom of its 800m-deep main shaft. Continue reading
Review – Gareth Evans – weak sop, and so on
Well, well, Gareth Evans, ? champion of nuclear disarmament has now come out in favour of Australia taking in everybody else’s dirty washing – i.e. nuclear wastes. I always though he was a weak sop, anyway.
Australia’s Paladin uranium company hopes nobody is noticing that it mucks up Malawi’s drinking water, and that it attacks the Malawi Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice – (bet it wouldn’t dare have a go at Australia’s)
BHP is lying low – hoping we’ll all forget about the predicted dust storms, as we have apparently forgotten about Maralinga. Russia plans to join forces with Cameco, in Australia uranium mining.
The nuclear industry is quietly worrying about the falling uranium price, and dimming prospects for commercial nuclear power – hence the increased nuclear hype. Marshall islanders fear sea level rise, to add to their radiation-induced problems.
Some really interesting ideas coming on in how energy efficiency, and smart grids, combining with renewables have great potential for Australia’s energy future. That’s some of the week that has been………….
Maralinga’s radioactive fallout 1963 and ? 2009
BHP keeps mum on early uranium shipment to China
BHP ships first uranium from SA
The Age BARRY FITZGERALD
October 1, 2009
“……………..BHP would not give details on the shipment, which was made possible by the 2006 agreement between the former Howard government and Beijing on a nuclear safeguards pact. Continue reading
Uranium dust, an unmentionable radioactive fact
The dust that dare not speak its name WA Today September 30, 2009 Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, Elizabeth Farrelly “…………………For us, as for most of the world, central Australia might as well not exist. It is almost a paradigm of unthinkability. It’s Timbuktu. That’s why we do things like nuclear testing there. It’s why BHP Billiton’s proposal to turn the Olympic Dam uranium mine into an open-cut operation is even contemplated for approval. Because it’s there, not here. Or was there – until, like Burnham Wood, it came here.
Open-cut uranium mining? It’s a gash a kilometre deep, churning 410 million tonnes of radioactive dirt per annum, “dewatering” the local aquifers, using 253 megalitres of water a day. No wonder the locals call them water thieves.
Of course, BHP’s environmental impact statement devotes a couple of pars to dust management. BHP proposes water trucks – like the ones they spray roads with. And they’ll monitor airborne particulates at nearby Hiltaba Village (so small even Google Maps can’t find it) and the thriving metropolis of Roxby Downs. That’ll do it.
A possibility the EIS doesn’t contemplate, however, is that several thousand tonnes of the stuff might reach the Opera House, or even Mount Egmont, where it lay so thick people thought their cars had rusted overnight. Where even New Zealand rains couldn’t wash it away…………….What goes around, comes around.
Nuclear hype, but nuclear future uncertain
Review, by Christina Macpherson. It’s been an interesting week. Internationally – two blatant lies are being taken up by prominent world leaders:
1. that developing nuclear power is an essential part of nuclear disarmament
2. that nuclear power is the solution to global warming.
Meanwhile, the global nuclear energy leader, AREVA, is in debt as “poster boy” new reactors in Finland and France continue to have troubles. Thousands of Russians protest against a new nuclear plant.
In Australia, Liberal party MP’s disagree on nuclear policy. The nuclear lobbyist Ziggy Spinowsky is frantically busy pushing nuclear, (as uranium prices remain low). In W.A., BHP is gently “advised” to consider the Ngalia people’s views on uranium developments. Dust storms, with more predicted, raise fears of radon gas reaching millions of Australians and New Zealanders.
BHPB not publicly discussing Olympic Dam’s radioactive dust danger
FILMMAKER DAVID BRADBURY: RED DUST DUMP ORIGINATING AT WOOMERA IS GRAVE CONCERN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
September 25, 2009 by Coober Pedy Regional Times“…….70 million tonnes of radioactive tailings to be dumped at the Roxby mine site each year without evidence of dust control is cause for concern”, says David Bradbury.. Continue reading
BHP Billiton’s chief gets 51pc pay rise
Billiton chief Marius Kloppers enjoys 51pc pay rise BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers enjoyed a 51pc pay rise this year to more than $10m (£6m), despite a 51pc fall in BHP pre-tax profits. Continue reading
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