Mining

18 October 2001

Kakadu Uranium Miner Faces Clean Up Call

Australian Conservation Foundation
Environment Centre NT
Friends of the Earth Australia

Environment groups have called on Kakadu uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) to detail rehabilitation and exit plans for the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine project at its AGM in Sydney today.

The call follows earlier statements from ERA's majority shareholder Rio Tinto at meetings in both Sydney and London that Rio did not support the development of Jabiluka in the "short term". The troubled project has also been opposed by the Federal ALP, Democrats and Greens ahead of the coming election.

"Construction work at Jabiluka stalled over 2 year ago because of lack of Aboriginal consent, a weak uranium market and strong community opposition," said Mark Wakeham from the Northern Territory Environment Centre.

"ERA now needs to outline its rehabilitation plans as we are approaching the monsoon season with large amounts of contaminated water on the site and a stockpile of 20,000 tonnes of uranium ore under a tarpaulin. We call on ERA to neutralise all hazards on site."

"The high level of corporate and political uncertainty surrounding Jabiluka means that there is increasing momentum against the project," said Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation.

"Environment groups and Aboriginal owners want to see the rehabilitation of the site and a real and permanent resolution to this issue."

"ERA have ignored the wishes of traditional owners, environment groups, ethical shareholders and the wider Australian community on Jabiluka over recent years", concluded Loretta O'Brien of Friends of the Earth Australia.

"The project has turned into an operational and investment nightmare. The most responsible way forward is for ERA to cut their losses and work with traditional owners to rehabilitate the project and guarantee the protection of Kakadu's people and environment."

Further information or comment:
Mark Wakeham 08 8981 1984 or 0412 853 641
Dave Sweeney (at the Sydney AGM) 0408 317 812
Loretta O'Brien 0418 178 053
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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