BHP’s Olympic Dam uranium mine the reason for desalination plant
Olympic Dam, South Australia BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company The most ambitious mining-water supply project, which includes the expansion of the associated mine—it will become the world’s largest uranium producer…But the expansion depends on a coastal desalination plant— —at Point Lowly on southern Australia’s Spencer Gulf. Four pumping stations will move water through the 320-kilometer (200-mile) pipeline, providing nearly 90 percent of the 83 million cubic meters (22 billion gallons) of water the mine will use each year for ore processing and dust suppression,
Australia Builds Desalination Plants and Pipelines to Bring Water to Mines, Circle of Blue WaterNews, 05 April 2011 To feed water-hungry mining industries, similar plans are in the works to supply drought-ridden regions of Australia and China. Continue reading
South Australian Premier STILL touting uranium industry
Progress toward Roxby mining expansion welcomed ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Mar 31, 2011 Premier Mike Rann says a feasibility study marks a significant step toward expansion of Olympic Dam mining in outback South Australia. Continue reading
Monash University engineer shows the way to expand Olympic Dam without uranium recovery
The Olympic Dam Mega-Expansion Without Uranium Recovery.Dr Gavin Mudd, 2010 Peer-Reviewed Report for SA Greens MLC Mark Parnell and WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, Adelaide, SA, December 2010, 10 p (Download PDF – 591 kb).
“…….It is eminently reasonable to propose a process flow sheet for Olympic Dam which does not include recovery of uranium but still allows for copper, gold and silver to be produced… This report .. proposing a technically viable alternative for operating Olympic Dam in the next expansion which excludes uranium recovery….”
BHP Billiton gambles on China’s nuclear boom
BHPB will have to spend something like $30-35 billion on the project and dig up a rather large part of SA.
It will not want to wake-up, so to speak, in eight years or so after it’s spent the money, to find the China boom has evaporated.
BHP Billiton to bank on big boom | Herald Sun, 31 March 11, BHP Billiton is on the brink of a huge, huge bet that the China-driven resources boom will just keep expanding and be joined by the Indian-driven one.It will also make a huge bet that the Japanese nuclear problem will figuratively speaking blow over.
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. Continue reading
BHP hastens to calm investor fears on uranium’s future
it was more likely BHP made the unusual announcement to calm fears of the Rann Labor government that international concerns about nuclear power caused by Fukushima could threaten Olympic Dam’s expansion.
BHP assurance on mine, Sydney Morning Herald, Barry FitzGeraldMarch 31, 2011 BHP Billiton has moved to dispel suggestions that the development timetable for its planned $30 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine in South Australia is set to slip because of uncertainty about uranium demand. Continue reading
South Australian Premier rules out nuclear power and uranium enrichment
No enrichment or nuclear plant on my watch: Rann , ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 23 March 11, Premier Mike Rann has used State Parliament to hose down the possibility of uranium enrichment or nuclear power plants in South Australia.Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis and Olympic Dam Minister Kevin Foley broke with ALP policy this week when they made public comments in support of an expansion of the industry.Mr Rann told Parliament no companies had expressed an interest in building a nuclear power plant in SA.He made clear again his support for ALP policy on nuclear issues……..No enrichment or nuclear plant on my watch: Rann – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Uranium conference in Adelaide hears govt enthusiasm for nuclear power
Key MPs back expansion of nuclear industry in South Australia | Adelaide Now, Christopher Russell and Sarah Martin, March 22, 2011 TWO senior Rann Government ministers have backed the expansion of Australia’s nuclear industry.Former treasurer Kevin Foley yesterday said Australia should embrace nuclear power. Continue reading
South Australian govt wants to enrich uranium in S.A.
In a bullish speech to a uranium conference in Adelaide, Mr Koutsantonis dubbed the reaction to the Fukushima crisis as ”hysteria”, and said nuclear power remained “the path for the future”..
SA call for uranium enrichment at home, Sydney Morning Herald, Peter Ker, Adelaide, March 22, 2011A SPECULATION about the demise of the uranium industry has been fiercely challenged by the South Australian government, which yesterday suggested Australia should expand its relationship with uranium to include domestic enrichment Continue reading
Australian designed renewable energy car around world in 80 days
Australia’s green car completes world tour in $400, Sify News, 2011-02-28 A two-seater renewable energy vehicle crossed the finish line of a global zero emissions race covering 16 countries and 30,000 km in 80 days in only $400.The Google-sponsored car Team Trev arrived at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday night.
Initially designed by University of South Australia (UniSA) and driven by UniSA researchers, the three-wheeled electric machine was Australia’s only representative in the first zero emission global race for vehicles powered by renewable energy…….Clean electricity for the around-the-world trip cost us about $400, so it’s really cheap to run as well as clean – it makes you wonder why we are still driving around in petrol cars because we’ve shown it is possible to do it differently,’ he said……Australia`s green car completes world tour in $400
The devious politics of uranium mining – example Arkaroola
To thread their way through environmental protection laws and keep Marathon investing, supporters of mining in the sanctuary have performed a range of unedifying gymnastics.
For years, Labor has joined with Marathon in a flagrant misreading of the SA Development Plan.
SA Labor buckling on Arkaroola uranium?, Green Left Weekly, February 27, 2011By Renfrey Clarke,”……….As insurance against lingering environmentalism among government ministers, Marathon — one of whose largest shareholders is the Chinese mining group CITIC — has brought a suite of former Labor politicians on board. Continue reading
South Australian govt under pressure over Arkaroola’s environment
Some of the worst effects would be on the region’s scant groundwater resources….five million litres of water a day for mining and processing. “That’s a heck of a lot of water in a very dry environment,”
SA Labor buckling on Arkaroola uranium?, Green Left Weekly, February 27, 2011, By Renfrey Clarke, Adelaide Under heavy public pressure, the South Australian government of Labor Premier Mike Rann appears to be wavering in its support for mining uranium in the Arkaroola wilderness in the state’s north. Continue reading
Stacked pro nuclear panel, stacked audience, in Adelaide?
both the panel and the audience seemed to be composed entirely of nuclear energy supporters. Renewable energy was dismissed as irrelevant, there was virtually no mention of nuclear accidents, and Brook patronisingly dismissed community concerns about the location of nuclear plants as “juvenile”.
Greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change, CPA – The Guardian, Peter Mac, 23 February 2011 ” ……. In a recent TV panel discussion (ABC 24, 19-02-2011), Adelaide University Professor Barry Brook argued strongly for Australia to develop a nuclear power industry based around fast nuclear reactors. Continue reading
S.A. govt should come clean on Arkaroola uranium mining policy
Creating a national park would give the SA Premier a boost in the polls, with mining in the sanctuary highly unpopular among voters. However, converting the land to national park would not affect the mining lease. Marathon was recently granted a 12-month extension to its licence at Arkaroola.
National park rumours take toll on SA uranium miner | The Australian, Verity Edwards and Damon Kitney February 21, 2011 1 The value of controversial mining company Marathon Resources has fallen by $4.9 million amid speculation the Rann government will declare the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary a national park. Continue reading
Arkaroola to be a National Park, perhaps not with uranium mining?
Clearly, there is overwhelming public opposition to mining in Arkaroola.
Editorial: Sentiment holds sway for Arkaroola | Adelaide Now, 18 Feb 2011, THE expected decision to declare the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary a national park is a welcome move. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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