7 Oct (NucNet): An exploration licence for uranium deposits near Alice Springs in Australia has been granted to a joint venture of Cameco Australia, a subsidiary of Canada’s Cameco Corporation, and Paladin Energy.
Cameco said on 3 October 2008 that the licence had been granted by the Northern Territory government for the Angela and Pamela deposits, 25 kilometres south of Alice Springs in the centre of Australia.
The licence includes a condition that Cameco obtains further regulatory authorisation under Northern Territory mining laws. Approval of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is also required before work on the ground begins. Drilling is planned to start on the Angela deposit in 2009, subject to all necessary approvals.
Jennifer Parks, regional director for Cameco Australia which will be the operator of the project during the exploration phase, said: “A considerable amount of work was done on these properties in the 1970s and 1980s, but it will take several more years to complete the work needed to decide whether to apply to mine them. This includes environmental, engineering and feasibility studies.”
Ms Parks said the company intends to become part of the Alice Springs community and will engage as many local suppliers and staff as possible.
Comprehensive environmental and social impact studies will be required should an application be made to mine the deposit. These would include detailed hydro-geological studies to ensure the geology and hydrology of the area are well understood, Cameco said.
In February 2008, Northern Territory chief minister Paul Henderson said: “The exploration phase alone will inject millions of dollars in to the economy, creating jobs for Territorians and business opportunities for support and supply services to the project.”
The Northern Territory government said a record 37 applications were received for the Pamela and Angela prospects.
– by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Cameco Completes Acquisition Of Stake In Australian Uranium Project (News in Brief No. 89, 12 August 2008)
Uranium Industry Welcomes New Government In Western Australia (News in Brief No. 108, 16 September 2008)
