Australia’s longest running uranium mine, ERA’s Ranger uranium mine near Jabiru, ceases production after 40 years of operation

THE nation’s longest running uranium mine ceases production today, closing the door on Jabiru’s 40-year history as a mining town.

• ERA committed to best practice rehabilitation of Ranger uranium mine
• ERA, operator of Jabiru’s Ranger uranium mine, holds its last AGM as shutdown date looms

THE nation’s longest running uranium mine ceases production today, closing the door on Jabiru’s 40-year history as a mining town.

Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) Ranger uranium mine has been a major supplier to global energy markets as well as being a key contributor to the Kakadu region and the Northern Territory.

With all mining and processing activities at Ranger ending, the focus now turns to the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area.

The Ranger ore body, the richest in the southern hemisphere, was discovered in late 1969 and the mine operation began in 1980, reaching full production of uranium oxide in 1981.

ERA’s Ranger uranium mine, which led to the construction of Jabiru township, will cease production today. Picture: ERA

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The Ranger mine ultimately led to the construction of the township of Jabiru in 1982. During that time, Ranger has produced more than 132,000 tonnes of uranium oxide.

Jabiru was originally a closed town to house the community living at Jabiru East near the Ranger uranium mine 8km away.

Both the mine and the town are completely surrounded by Kakadu National Park.

At its peak ERA was a major local employer and the population was several thousand, but according to the 2016 census of population, there were just 1081 people in Jabiru.

Under the current legal framework, ERA was required to cease mining and processing activities on the Ranger Project Area by January 8, with final rehabilitation to be completed by January 2026.

Rehabilitating the Ranger mine is expected to cost about $808m.

ERA says it holds funds for rehabilitation and future monitoring of the Ranger Project Area in accordance with the Ranger Mine Closure Plan.

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ERA said its financial contributions had been made under a contractual deed of agreement with the commonwealth government that had been in place since 1994 for the purpose of research into the environmental effects of uranium mining.