Kristen Moran reports that while plans to ban uranium mining in Queensland again have miners in the state up in arms, other Australian states are reportedly ready to reap the benefits. For instance, Mines Minister, Bill Marmion, sees the situation as an opportunity for WA to capitalize on investment in the sector. Marmion told Australian Mining Thursday that this is working to maximize uranium opportunities in WA, as opposed to the Queensland Labor short-sighted approach - based on input from misguided and ill-advised influences within Labor Party and from the greenies.
Since WA had their own uranium mining ban lifted in 2008, more than 300 million AUS dollars have been invested in uranium exploration in WA. Four projects have been advanced. What is so exciting is that exports from the four advanced projects could top 1-billion AUS dollars a year by 2020, if uranium prices recover to economic levels, Marmion said. These mines could employ more than 1,500 people during construction and 500 people during operations, not to mention the indirect employment opportunities.
In WA, the Cameco mine, Kintyre, recently received environmental approval to move forward. The Toro Energy Wiluna project has a mine life of at least 25 years and is believed to contain 76.5 million pounds of U3O8. Also, Vimy Resources recently saw some excitement at its Mulga Rock uranium project after it announced that metallurgical work done to date is favorable.
In the NT, Arafura Resources is exploring the Nolans Bore rare earths-phosphate-uranium deposit, and Energy Resources of Australia, which owns the Ranger mine, located 260 kilometers southeast of Darwin.
In SA, Alliance Resources has the Four Mile uranium project, which is 75-percent owned by Quasar Resources, also owns the adjacent Beverley Mine. Havilah Resources and Cunamona Energy, which owns the Honeymoon Mine, are currently on hold. US Uranium also has an interesting deposit.
Resource Portal for I2M Clients, Associates, and Geoscientists
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-