of interest

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/21/2960245.htm?section=business



Print Email ShareUranium industry set to take off
Updated Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:41pm AEST

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Anti-uranium protesters outside the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle

Audio: The head of Mines and Petroleum Richard Sellers says the uranium industry is forging ahead (ABC News) Audio: WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam speaks to the media at a uranium protest in Fremantle (ABC News) Map: Fremantle 6160 Related Story: Protestors hold forth against uranium mining The head of WA's Mines department says the state's uranium industry is burgeoning.

The State Government lifted a moratorium on uranium mining in 2008 and five companies have been given the green light to mine the resource in Western Australia.

The director-general of the Department of Mines and Petroleum Richard Sellers expects at least two mines will begin operating by 2013.

"It certainly has had a massive increase in exploration since the moratorium was lifted," he said.

Mr Sellers says that is just the start of the expansion of the industry over the next decade.

"A lot of other companies are interested in uranium exploration and there's a lot of other deposits that were (slated for development) at that same time," he said.

"Some of those weren't as advanced and are now advancing."

Mr Sellers believes there could be as many as six operational uranium mines in WA by 2020.


Demonstration

Dozens of protesters gathered outside a uranium mining conference in Fremantle today.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam says there is still a chance the development of the industry can be stopped.

"What we plan on telling these investors inside this conference room is that they are going to do their money," he said.

"This is a volatile industry, it's a very difficult industry to make money in, they would be far better off investing in the renewable energy sector."

Mr Ludlam says there is a range of reasons why uranium mining should be stopped.

"It's definitely an occupational health and safety issue and that's why we've got the union movement down here supporting us," he said.

"This kind of mining, uranium mining is not like other kinds of mining. The environmental impact, social impact, transport issues for communities that surround the mines; very, very different to other kinds of mining."