Western Australia has considerable resources of uranium, but to date there has been no commercial mining in the state.[1]

Mining proposals

Quarterly expenditure ($millions) on exploration for uranium in Western Australia since 1988
Mining in the Wiluna-Leinster area

Two uranium mining projects in the state are closer to production, the 750 tonne U3O8 Lake Maitland project, pursued by Mega Uranium, and the 680 tonne U3O8 Centipede–Lake Way project undertaken by Toro Energy, located at Lake Way.[2][3]

Deposits

Major development projects include:[4]

  • Yeelirrie, Wiluna (Cameco)
  • Kintyre, Telfer (Cameco and Mitsubishi Corp)
  • Mulga Rock, Pinjin (Vimy Resources)[5]
  • Lake Way - Wiluna (Toro Energy)[6]
  • Lake Maitland, Wiluna (Toro Energy)[6]
  • Nyang, Learmonth (Paladin Energy)
  • Manyingee, Onslow (Paladin Energy)
  • Oobagooma, Derby (Marenica Energy)
  • Dawson Hinkler Well, Wiluna (Toro Energy)
  • Thatcher Soak (Marenica Energy)
  • Hillview, Meekatharra (Encounter)

Public opposition

There has been some opposition to uranium and nuclear industries in WA, especially since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, including anti-uranium campaigns from the Conservation Council of Western Australia, Nuclear-Free Alliance, and the Anti-Nuclear Alliance.[7] In the past WA Greens leader Giz Watson and Labor MP Sally Talbot have spoken out against uranium mining, nuclear power and radioactive waste disposal in WA.[8][9]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/9997.aspx Department of Minerals and Petroleum, Western Australia - information on uranium in Western Australia
  2. ↑ Michael Lampard. "Uranium Outlook to 2013–14". Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  3. ↑ See also Sas, Nick 2013 Nuclear pull is debatable - The West Australian p. 41, Monday, January 2013 for details of delays and the ramifications of the (1) 2013 Western Australian state election on mining projects (2) the uranium spot price - which has not risen sufficiently for economic conditions for mining
  4. ↑ As found in The West Australian Monday, January 14, 2013, Business section, page 41 - Sas, Nick Nuclear Pull is debatable with Yellowcake as title of list found here, order is as found at the Department of Minerals and Petroleum website information on the largest 10 uranium deposit sizes at ww.dmp.wa.gov.au/10002.aspx#12798
  5. ↑ "Vimy Resources - Definitive Feasibility Study Mulga Rock Project". vimyresources.com.au. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Toro gets WA nod for uranium project". The Advertiser. News Corp Australia. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Anti Nuclear Alliance of Conservation Council Western Australia". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Courtney Trenwith (22 June 2011). "Get with the times: Parliament told nuclear power is 'so last century'". WAtoday.
  9. ↑ "Uranium forum addresses Japan crisis fallout". ABC News. 7 June 2011.
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