PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The federal and Northern Territory governments have released the findings of an independent expert report into the leach tank failure at uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA’s) Ranger mine, in the Northern Territory.
The government-ordered independent report, released this week, has made seven recommendations to prevent a similar incident, including the development of documented processes that would ensure that responses to leaks and other losses of contaminants were thoroughly dealt with.
The report also recommended a review of the regulatory framework to ensure a more comprehensive and clear regulatory environment, and that ERA’s action plan be monitored quarterly, for a period of two years, to ensure that it is effectively implemented.
“It is critical that ERA improve process safety practices at Ranger to ensure mining activities continue to have no impact on the Kakadu National Park,” said Australian Minister for Industry Ian Macfarlane.
ERA was forced to suspend its processing plant operations in December last year, after a mixture of slurry moved outside the containment area, following the failure of a leach tank.
The uranium miner dismantled and removed the leach tank from site, while an independent expert made recommendations on asset integrity and maintenance at the Ranger processing plant, which ERA’s board subsequently accepted.
The ERA board gave approval for the project to restart in April this year.
Northern Territory Minister for Mines and Energy Willem Westra van Holthe said that the independent report was aimed at assisting ERA in improving its practises.
“ERA must ensure day-to-day safety on site, the protection of workers and the environment is paramaount.”