The Australian federal government has issued a new rehabilitation authority to Energy Resources Australia (ERA) to continue its rehabilitation activities at the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory.
The new authority allows ERA to continue its rehabilitation activities, allowing the site to be returned to the Mirarr traditional owners.
“This new authority means that ERA will be able to continue with its obligation to restore Ranger Uranium Mine to a condition similar to the surrounding Kakadu National Park,” said Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King.
The Mirrar traditional owners worked with the Northern Land Council and ERA on a new land access agreement.
The Ranger uranium mine ceased operations in 2021 after operating for 40 years.
ERA appointed Rio Tinto to manage the Ranger rehabilitation project in April 2024, in which Rio Tinto will manage all aspects of the rehabilitation.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy approved the agreement under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory).
“I thank the Mirarr Traditional Owners, Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Northern Land Council, ERA and Rio Tinto for their collaborative efforts in establishing this new authority and land access agreement,” McCarthy said.
“We want to see rehabilitation completed and for the land to be returned to the Mirarr Traditional Owners.”
