PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Queensland moved nearer to allowing uranium mining, after it released an “action plan” to implement a regulatory framework for uranium mining in the state.
The action plan would ensure the maintenance of strict environmental, safety and approval standards, Natural Resources and Mines Minister Andrew Cripps said.
“The government has developed this implementation strategy in response to a detailed report by the Uranium Mining Implementation Committee (UMIC), which was released in March 2013,” he said.
“The strategy outlines the actions various state government agencies will deliver and covers all aspects of the approvals process, including environmental standards, safety and health, economic and community development, indigenous opportunities and native titles.”
The Minister noted that uranium exports had the potential to generate significant revenue for Queensland over the next two decades.
“With the estimated value of the in-ground uranium resource in Queensland approximately A$10-billion, with more than A$8-billion located in north-west Queensland, the industry has real potential to support economic growth and job creation,” he said.
The state government’s focus was to ensure all the uranium-specific regulatory guidelines and protocols were in place to begin assessing applications from mid-July 2014, Cripps stated.
He added that the state government had endorsed the UMIC’s key finding that Queensland’s existing systems for regulating mining and radiation safety were robust and could accommodate uranium across the mining cycle.
The best practice regulatory framework would now take account of all relevant issues across the uranium mining life cycle, including whole-of-project assessments, safe handling and transportation, safety and health risk management systems, environmental management, and native title arrangements.
A UMIC will be established to review and monitor progress against the action plan and take a lead role on technical oversight issues, project governance and delivery timeframes.
Cripps said commercial demand for uranium would determine when uranium mining would recommence in Queensland. Uranium mining was banned in the state in 1989 but it has not been mined since 1982.
“There are a number of factors that will influence the timing of uranium mining operations and it is ultimately a commercial decision for industry proponents," he said.
“These factors include the world market price for uranium, supply and demand in that market, and mining costs.”
The Queensland Resources Council on Thursday welcomed the release of the action plan.
“There’s already evidence that the policy change is seeing new players coming into Queensland,” CEO Michael Roche said, referring to French miner Areva launching a A$5-million exploration programme in the state.
But the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) criticised the yellowcake roadmap, saying it seeks to have all uranium mining proposals in Queensland assessed and approved by the state government. This, the ACF said, was in conflict with the federal Coalition’s commitment that uranium mining was an area where the federal government would retain control.
“Uranium mining is an issue of national interest and importance and is rightly a matter for the active consideration of the national government,” ACF’s Dave Sweeney said, accusing the Queensland government of trying to cut corners.