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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The New South Wales government has short-listed six companies that would be allowed to apply for uranium exploration licences.
The companies included ASX-listed Iluka, Marmota Energy, EJ Resources, Hartz Rare Earths and Australian Zirconia, as well as a joint venture between Callabonna Resources and HNFL Holdings.
Minister for Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts said on Thursday that the six companies had been identified following an expression of interest process, which involved a thorough analysis of the applicants’ environmental performance, technical expertise and financial capacity.
“The six companies will be invited to apply for exploration licences in one of three New South Wales locations with possible uranium deposits - around Broken Hill, near Cobar and south of Dubbo,” the Minister said.
“Further assessments will be made once the companies lodge their applications.”
Laws to allow uranium exploration were passed by the New South Wales Parliament and came into effect in September 2012; however, a ban on uranium mining remains in place.
“Exploration will allow the New South Wales government to better understand the extent of the state’s resources and any potential economic benefits.
“Companies that apply for and are granted an exploration licence will only be allowed to perform low impact exploration and environmental monitoring, any other activities will require further approvals,” Roberts added.
Roberts pointed out that the uranium exploration would be controlled by strict environmental, health and safety standards, with safety systems required to be in place to address specific circumstances associated with uranium exploration, including the identification, monitoring and management of material, dust management through reverse circulation drilling and occupational hygiene.
Uranium exploration and mining has been approved in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
There were currently five uranium mines in Australia, of which four were located in South Australia and one in the Northern Territory.