Zubana is right that water is a key issue in that area there are...

Zubana is right that water is a key issue in that area there are a lot of disputes over water between the locals.

That said a couple of things to remember:

The Hansen resource sits with in a fully saturated zone so UBHM will probably make water rather than use it. Furthermore I would doubt that water (given the U concentration) from that zone is potable, or even suitable for agriculture so it may not been seen as reducing the available water supply anyhow.

The ablation process itself would need water to get the system charged, but after that it would not be a huge requirement because mineralised material is taken out as a solid and dewatered to reduce the transport cost for the concentrate. i assume BLR will want to get the water in the concentrate as low as possible.

As the water has no chemicals or additives form the ablation process a good portion of the water can then be recycled.