true value, page-23

hey b2r,

no, they can't mine until the lease expires : they're committed to a certain rehab timeline, to be completed within the terms of the lease. Thats why Rob Atkinson repeatedly referred to end of mining in 2012, because they'll have to stop mining then to be able to begin the laborious process of burying the tails in the pit.

yes, there are other deposits, but the good stuff is running low. and a process of authorisation to target a new orebody would take us past that deadline.

really, the only hope for ranger is for both governments to approve another extension of the lease. But what came effortless back in 1999 would be excruciating today. Even if such a dash was successful, it'd undoubtedly be tied to a contemporary level of regulation. Recent revelations about the state of waste management at ranger would suggest this project isn't in a fit state to leap from a 1970s regulatory regime into today's modern standards. This could be the clincher for Rio to choose to quit while they're ahead.