ERA committed to best practice rehabilitation of Ranger uranium mine

THE operator of Ranger uranium mine near Jabiru, Energy Resources Australia, says it is unequivocally committed to best-in-class rehabilitation of the site and subsequent monitoring.

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THE operator of Ranger uranium mine near Jabiru, Energy Resources Australia, says it is unequivocally committed to best-in-class rehabilitation of the site and subsequent monitoring.

The company has hit out at media reports which “did not accurately portray” this.

Work at the mine will end next month and rehabilitating the 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.

The media report made reference to ERA’s financial contribution to the monitoring role of the Supervising Scientist Branch.

It claimed ERA “is in dispute with the federal government over paying for scientific monitoring of the mine”.

ERA took aim at the report’s assertions about ERA’s position on future monitoring of the project area.

Energy Resources of Australia will finish work at Ranger uranium mine next month and rehabilitation is expected to cost about $808m. Picture: Supplied

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

It said the deed did not relate to funding for long-term monitoring but it provided for a review of research funding at fixed periods and upon changes in operations.

ERA said claims of a dispute were incorrect and it was exercising the right it had for a periodic review.

It said the outcome of the review was not yet determined.

ERA chief executive Paul Arnold said it supported the role of the Supervising Scientist Branch (SSB).

“We continue to work very constructively with the SSB and all other regulators and key stakeholders, including the Mirarr traditional owners, as we progress toward our shared objective of rehabilitating Ranger to the required high standards,” he said.

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“We are disappointed the media report did not accurately portray ERA’s unequivocal commitment to the best-in-class rehabilitation of Ranger and subsequent monitoring.”