JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The government of South Australia has entered into an agreement with Canada’s Saskatchewan province to promote improved scientific and technical cooperation within the minerals industry, South Australian Mineral Resources Development Minister Paul Holloway said.

The Department of Primary Industries and Resources for South Australia (Pirsa) stated this week that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed between Pirsa and the Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Energy and Resources, on the sidelines of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Congress.

Holloway stated that the MoU would promote the exchange of information and facilitate scientific and technical cooperation on mineral resources development in each jurisdiction.

“There are a lot of mutual benefits that can flow when two agencies with such a wealth of experience and knowledge in the mining industry are able to pool their resources and know-how,” Holloway stated.

The MoU would also provide the opportunity for knowledge sharing on uranium geoscience, which is of significant interest to South Australia, as the region hosted most of the country’s known uranium resources.

“Saskatchewan is the leading jurisdiction in North America for uranium exploration and mining production. The Athabasca basin in Saskatchewan has the world’s largest high-grade uranium mines, and produces about 23% of the world’s uranium. On the other hand, South Australia is recognised as being one of the most prospective geological terrains for the next generation of uranium mine developments in Australia.”

The partnership, which was due to start in 2009, would involve technical exchanges on all aspects of geoscience, including geological and mineral resource mapping, information management and delivery, as well as a range of other initiatives.

Pirsa stated that the two regions would also share information on the administration and regulation of uranium exploration and mining. “Good science is often forged by innovative alliances such as this. The partnership between our jurisdictions will foster an environment for open exchanges on the world’s best practice mineral exploration and mining,” said Saskatchewan Energy and Resources Minister Bill Boyd.