Rio Tinto has taken over ERA’s Ranger uranium mine clean-up

A massive change has been made to a controversial NT mine clean-up. Read what’s changed.

Forrest Egerton and Sharon Paulka looking at the growth of plants on Pit 1 which is undergoing rehabilitation. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

ERA boss Brad Welsh has welcomed the takeover by mining giant Rio Tinto of the Ranger uranium mine clean-up.

The two companies announced on Wednesday they had signed a management services agreement for Rio to undertake the massive rehabilitation project.

Flagged to cost between $1.6bn and $2.2bn, the clean-up began after the uranium mine closed in January 2021.

Mr Walsh said ERA approached Rio several months ago to continue the work already undertaken at Ranger.

Mr Walsh said the new clean-up model ”aligns better with the closure”.

“Rio already provides a number of operational and technical services to ERA and this reaches deeper into their expertise.,” he said.

“This isn’t related to cost, we see value in the model. The project will benefit from Rio Tinto’s global expertise in mine closures.”

ERA chief executive Brad Walsh

Mr Walsh said the final cost and time would be difficult to determine.

“There is variability in the cost. Rain events, for instance, drive a lot of uncertainty. This isn’t linked to cost, we see value in the execution. It should be more efficient.”

Mr Walsh said tailings had been moved from the tailings storage facility – which is now called Ranger Water Dam – into the pit.

Following that rocks from the mine will be placed in the pit followed by deconstructed building parts.

“The industrial level activity like the deconstruction and putting rock in pits is relatively easy in terms of time frames, but when talking about re-establishing an ecosystem to the standard of a national park, there has to be a lot of rigour and quality. We want this system to be stable for 10,000 years.”

Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker said Rio would provide more closure and project delivery experience to the “critical task”.

“So far, ERA has made progress in key areas, including water, tailings treatment and management and pit rehabilitation,” Ms Parker said.

“We are aligned with ERA in wanting to build on this work using Rio Tinto’s expertise in closure projects and our commitment to strong stakeholder relationships.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the Mirarr traditional owners and other stakeholders to complete the project.”

The Australian Conservation Foundation cautiously welcomed Rio Tinto’s involvement, saying they were better placed to “deliver credible outcomes”.

“There is a massive shortfall in funding for the Ranger clean-up and put simply Rio has deeper pockets, more talent and greater reputational exposure than ERA,” said ACF spokesman Dave Sweeney.

“The heavily impacted site now requires rehabilitation to a standard suitable for inclusion in the surrounding dual World Heritage listed Kakadu. This extremely high hurdle has far more chance of being met by Rio Tinto than it ever would by ERA.”