Jabiluka: World Heritage or Wasteland?
The Jabiluka deposit is located adjacent to the floodplain of the Magella Creek, a tributary of the East Alligator River in Kakadu National Park. It is beneath an escarpment outlier about 20kms north of the existing Ranger mine and near the tourist route to the Ubirr rock art sites.
Overview Info :
- located in the Northern Territory, 230 km east of Darwin and just 20 km north of Jabiru.
- currently owned by ERA, who purchased the deposit from Pancontinental Mining in 1991 for $125 million.
- 90,400 tonnes of uranium oxide and 12 tonnes gold.
- the site is part of the Magela Creek floodplain and is covered by water for six months of the year.
- originally proposed as an open cut mine by Pancontinental Mining, which had potential for serious environmental management problems.
- now proposed as an underground mine with existing facilities at Ranger to be used for processing.
- proposed production is by acid leach, saturated tailings for 9,000 tonnes per year with an estimated 25 year life span.
There are many specific concerns that are raised by the proposal to mine uranium at Jabiluka, including :
- the regions traditional owners have clearly stated that they are opposed to any mining operations at the site. In a joint letter of concern the Mirrar Gundjehmi, Mirrar Erre, Bunitj and Manilakarr clan leaders have stated
"A new mine will make our future worthless and destroy more of our country. We oppose any further mining development in our country...We have no desire to see any more country ripped up and further negative intrusions on our lives."
Even though the Mirrar Gundjehmi have been saying no to the new mine for quite some time now, they still have to keep attending meetings and are being subjected to extreme pressure to allow the mine to proceed. The company is continuing this pressure.
- Jabiluka is adjacent to a World Heritage listed area. The proposed mine would impact on both the listed cultural and environmental values of the region. The presence of uranium mining is simply not compatible with World Heritage or National Park values.
- it is proposed to mine Jabiluka by underground methods. As the orebody is rich in uranium this approach creates a significant radiation and occupational health and safety hazard to workers.
- Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) have publicly stated that if the traditional owners do not agree to their new plans then the company will revert to a legally questionable and environmentally inferior proposal dating from 1982. This stance by the company has been described by traditional owners as both irresponsible and blatant blackmail.
- the proposed Jabiluka mine would greatly increase the burden on the existing Ranger operation as the company plans to use the Ranger mill to process the ore. Ranger has a poor environmental record, especially in relation to water and tailings management. Jabiluka would significantly exacerbate this. Any consideration of the proposed Jabiluka mine needs to be placed within the context of the Ranger operation.
- the proposal would mean the creation of a road over 20kms in length which would link Jabiluka to the Ranger mine. This road, and the three bridges also being proposed will impact on the local environment through vegetation clearance, erosion, dust and noise and animal road kill. It also means uranium ore will be trucked around Kakadu - increasing the risks of a spill of radioactive material. The road will create an ecological barrier to wildlife, increase the risk of the spread of weeds within the Park and will impact on several sacred sites.
Page last updated January 26, 1998.
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