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PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) lamented reports that the newly elected state government is considering reinstating a ban on uranium mining.
Queensland Minister for State Development, Natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham reportedly confirmed that a prohibition on uranium mining would once again be put in place.
The previous state government in 2012 lifted the ban on uranium mining, with then Mines Minister Andrew Cripps last year introducing a framework under which future uranium mines would have to adhere to ensure world-best environmental protection and safety standards.
The QRC has urged the newly-elected government to consult with companies with uranium interest, before making any decisions regarding a new ban on uranium mining.
“This new Labor government has the opportunity to take advantage of the excellent work undertaken by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in the past few years to develop a world-leading regulatory framework for assessing and overseeing uranium mining projects.
“Rather than a blanket ban, the better option would be to judge each project on its merits and against the regulatory framework for uranium,” the QRC said.
The industry body noted that a reimposition of a blanket ban on uranium mining would come as a “disappointment to the people of north-west Queensland who rightly see uranium mining as a valuable new jobs generator for the region”.
“An option open to the government is only to consider uranium mining projects in the north-west of the state where some of the most valuable uranium deposits are located.”
The Queensland government has made no formal statements on any decisions regarding uranium mining in the state.