ags environmental issues, page-16

Premier Mike Rann
Minister for Economic Development
Minister for Social Inclusion
Minister for the Arts
Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change
Saturday 31st March 2007, Chile


News Release
www.premier.sa.gov.au


RANN WILL LOBBY TO CHANGE URANIUM POLICY


Premier Mike Rann has vowed to step up his fight to change national Labor’s ‘no new mines’ policy
on uranium at the ALP National Conference to be held later next month.
Speaking from Chile, where he is touring major mine operations and associated infrastructure, Mr
Rann said he would be lobbying all Conference delegates for a change to the policy, immediately on
his return.
“I have said for years now that national Labor’s 25-year old policy banning new uranium mines is
outdated and illogical.
“Under that policy, Australia’s exports of uranium have trebled, and Australia is today the world’s
second largest uranium producer, so it has not stopped the expansion of the uranium industry.
“The policy is a ban on increasing the number of mines, so it does not prevent the expansion of an
existing uranium mine, such as Olympic Dam which contains about a third of the world’s known
reserves of uranium.
“The expansion of Olympic Dam would see its output of uranium go from 4,000 tonnes to 15,000 per
annum - more than the entire production of Canada, currently the world’s biggest uranium producer.
“Although the policy will not prevent the Olympic Dam expansion, it stands in the way of the further
development of South Australia’s potential.
“In February this year, there were 166 granted Mineral Exploration Licences for uranium and
a further 105 applications for exploration for uranium.
“Our state is recognised internationally for its uranium potential. In 2005-06, uranium exploration
expenditure reached a 25-year high of just over $30 million.
“There are about 60 companies and individuals that hold exploration licences for uranium, including
Heathgate Resources, sxr Uranium1, PepinNini Minerals, Curnamona Energy and Marathon
Resources, to name a few.
“A major development in prospect is the joint venture between Quasar Resources and
Alliance Resources for development of the Beverley 4 Mile project near Heathgate Resource’s
Beverley uranium mine.
“Drilling is taking place to ascertain the size and grade of the resource, with a scoping and prefeasibility
study planned for the next 6 months.“Subject to respective Board approvals the joint venture is planning to submit a mining lease
application for development of a major mine by the end of this year. This means jobs for South
Australians.
“But this mine could not proceed under the no new mines policy. I intend to support the
development of this mine"

News Release
www.premier.sa.gov.au