Queensland Prepared for Uranium Mining

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Exploration, Mining, Marketing, & Acquisitions

Date posted: 08/16/14

The Government of the Australian State of Queensland says it is now ready to accept applications for uranium mining projects following its announcement of a new regulatory framework. The state lifted its long-standing ban on uranium mining in 2012. Mine Minister Andrew Cripps indicated that a modern and robust framework is required to ensure that uranium mining in Queensland is carried out according to the best environmental protection and safety standards. The government said that the framework provides regulatory efficiency and investment certainty for uranium mining in Queensland. It adopts the same obligations that apply to existing mineral tenure holders, including compliance with land access and native title laws. Under the framework, applications for uranium mining projects will be assessed by the Queensland Coordinator-General, while environmental assessments and approvals for projects will be completed jointly by the State and Australian governments. Any uranium mined in Queensland will only be exported to countries that have a bilateral safeguard arrangement with Australia. Uranium will be exported through existing licensed ports in Darwin and South Australia as there are currently no ports in Queensland licensed for the export of uranium.