Energy Resources Australia Ltd (ERA) has released an update to the Mine Closure Plan for its Ranger uranium mine, located approximately 8 kilometres east of Jabiru and 260 kilometres south-east of Darwin, in the Northern Territory.
The Ranger mine is Australia’s longest continually operating uranium mine. According to ERA, uranium has been mined at Ranger for more than 35 years and during that time, the mine has produced in excess of 130,000 tonnes of uranium oxide.
Under the Ranger Authority, ERA is required to cease mining and processing activities in the Ranger Project Area by January 2021, with final rehabilitation to be completed by January 2026.
The release of an updated Mine Closure Plan on Friday 2 October 2020, follows the first public release of the Plan in June 2018 and an update released in October 2019.
The Plan is updated annually in accordance with regulatory requirements and in consultation with Traditional Owner representatives, regulators and key stakeholders.
ERA’s Chief Executive Paul Arnold said ERA’s priority to care for country is demonstrated by its commitment to achieve best-in-class closure outcomes for the Ranger Mine.
“This has been shown through our progressive rehabilitation of Ranger and the completion of an entitlement offer earlier this year ensuring we have the funds to meet our rehabilitation obligations. Since 2012, ERA has spent more than $642 million on rehabilitation and water management at Ranger,” Mr Arnold detailed.
“The Plan, which reflects the complexity of rehabilitating a site in this environmentally and culturally sensitive region, is comprehensive and achievable. It is based on long term research, expert studies, best practicable technology, cultural guidance from the Mirarr Traditional Owners and thorough stakeholder review.”
“The Plan takes into account feedback over the past year from the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, the Northern Land Council, the Supervising Scientist Branch, and Northern Territory and Commonwealth regulatory agencies. My thanks to all of these organisations for their contributions,” Mr Arnold said.
In addition to the release of the Plan update, ERA has released a video celebrating progress on the rehabilitation of Pit 1 with more than 13 million tonnes of bulk material movement now completing the backfill of the pit in readiness for revegetation.
ERA also published an update about the first plantings on rehabilitated land earlier this year.
Some of the seedlings planted were grown from seeds sowed by community members at the 2019 Mahbilil Festival.
“I encourage people to go to our website to view the updated Plan, our rehabilitation stories and other updates on the good progress we are making at Ranger. I am very proud of the ERA team for their efforts and passion in updating the Plan and delivering these progressive rehabilitation achievements,” Mr Arnold commented.
The 2020 Ranger Mine Closure Plan update and animation are available to view on the ERA website here.
The Company’s Pit 1 rehabilitation story is also available to view on the ERA website here.