Uranium exploration in WA

Click on the map to go to google maps which shows the tenements and companies with active uranium exploration in WA.

The five most advanced uranium mine proposals in WA

There are currently 5 uranium mine proposals in the approvals process (listed in order of progress)

• Toro Energy- Lake Way/ Centipede (Scoping document approved, ERMP submitted to the EPA, over 2060 public submissions were made to the EPA in opposition to the mine)  Wiluna ERMP Submission_Final.doc
• BHP Billiton – Yeelirrie (Scoping document approved)
• Mega Uranium- Lake Maitland (Scoping document approved)
• Cameco- Kintyre (Scoping document submitted, and public comment closed- waiting for approval)
• Energy and Minerals Australia- Mulga Rocks (made application to the EPA)

Update: Wiluna (Lake Way and Centipede)- Toro Energy Limited is conducting exploration mining, they have had their scoping document approved by the EPA. Toro have submitted a draft Environmental Review Management Plan to the EPA, it was released for public comment in mid 2011. There were over 2060 submissions made to the EPA in opposition to the proped mine. The ERMP was incomplete on release to the public and there we are challending the EPA to re-release the 'final' ERMP for further public comment. There is opposition against this project from the community in Wiluna just 17km away from the proposed mine who are concerned about background levels of radiation and water consumption. Toro are buying up tenements close to Wiluna and plan to develop those sites. Toro is also exploring other sites further a field in WA, including the Birrindudu site in a JV with Cameco, Kintore on the WA NT border, Lake McKay North East WA and Reynolds Range. Toro also have several uranium exploration mines in Namibia.

Download CCWA submission to the EPA on Wiluna Environmental Review Management Plan Wiluna ERMP Submission_Final_0.doc

Link to Toro’s website and scoping document http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/docs/3210_100514_PM-WIL-ENV-LC_RPT_EnvScopingDocRev01v4.0pdf

Update: Mega Lake Maitland Pty Ltd is conducting exploration mining, they have had their scoping document approved by the EPA, they are preparing their Environmental Review Management Plan ERMP. There is opposition against this project from the community in Wiluna just 30km away, the community is concerned about background levels of radiation and water consumption. Mega Uranium has other uranium interests in WA, including Kintyre Rocks, Kintyre East and Coolbro Creek.

Download CCWA submission to the EPA on Lake Maitland Scoping Doc.  CCWA_ACF_TWS_Lake Maitland_U_Mine_Mega.doc

Link to Mega’s website and scoping document http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/docs/3212_LakeMaitland_ESD_15062.pdf

Update: Kintyre- Cameco/Mitsubishi- conducting exploration mining, they are still in discussions with the Martu about the project and are having logistical problems with roads. They are behind schedule on finishing their Environmental Review Management Plan. Cameco have submitted their Scoping Document to the EPA which has been approved. The Martu have at different times shown serious opposition to the proposed mine at Kintyre. Kintyre is in an area that has been excised from the Karlamilyi (formerley Rudall River) National Park, there is strong opposition against this mine which is in WA biggest National Park which is unusually rich in biodiversity and with phenomenal combination of ephemeral river systems with permanent water holes and salt lakes. There are several other uranium mining companies that are buying up tenements close to Kintyre in the hope of finding uranium seams of the main Kintyre deposit - this includes companies such as Mega Uranium and Encounter Resources/Barrick.

Cameco website http://www.cameco.com/exploration/major_projects/australia/kintyre/     

Update: Mulga Rocks- Energy Minerals Australia has just won a court battle over ownership of the deposit and now plan to accelerate their exploration activities at Mulga Rocks deposit. The local community of Coonana have a long experience with the nuclear industry with many people in the community  migrated to Coonana from SA after the Maralinga nuclear weapons tests in the 1950’s. Energy Minerals have several other uranium deposits in WA that they are exploring, these include; Narnoo, Gunbarrel and Mingwal.

EMA web http://www.eama.com.au/projects/mulga/ ***

Update status on uranium exploration in WA

The minority West Australian Government has removed the long standing ban on uranium mining in WA, is spending millions of tax payer dollars in grants, new staff to regulate and more still to fund industry panels to bench mark WA regulations with limited scope and no public input.

There are no commercial uranium mines in WA but there are at least 45 uranium exploration projects, some that have received government funding

There are 30 deposits the Department of Mines and Petroleum sees as significant, they are held by 30 companies, some individually and many in partnership.

There are in total 212 uranium tenements held across WA by 66 companies, though we suspect there a more that are not yet recorded as uranium.

Uranium is different...

Uranium mines are not like other mines, uranium is radioactive, and its breakdown products are radioactive, it is an unstable mineral with decay products that emit radiation which can damage cells and cause cancer. Uranium mines produce material that will inevitably end up either as high-level radioactive waste or as weapons usable fissile material. There is not nuclear cycle just a toxic chain. 

After the 2007 WA state election, the Liberal Barnett Government lifted the ban on uranium mining in the state, this has caused a flood of interest from uranium miners. The boom of interest in uranium mining has been caused by the pro-uranium state and federal governments, but is not a reflection of the market demand for uranium.

While the industry keeps talking up a renaissance of nuclear power the reality is quite different. There are a lot of power stations due to be decommissioned, new technology is taking a long time to come on line, other nuclear power stations under construction are experiencing delays of up to 25 years, nuclear power is expensive, uninsurable and dirty, the supply of uranium is expected to exceed demand by 2012.

Right now there are three uranium mine proposals that have submitted scoping documents to the EPA for approval, BHP’s Yeelirrie, Mega’s Lake Maitland and Toro’s Wiluna. There are a few others following closely behind in the approvals race before the 2013 state election when WA may well close its doors to uranium mining once again.