Uranium in Western Australia

Western Australia has considerable reserves of uranium,[1] but to date no mined uranium has been exported from Western Australia. There has been considerable opposition to the uranium and nuclear industries in WA, especially since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Mining proposals and public opposition
Quarterly expenditure ($millions) on exploration for uranium in Western Australia since 1988
Mining in the Wiluna-Leinster area

In the 2000s, significant opposition to nuclear power and uranium mining saw a ban on mining for a period of time. The six-year[2] Western Australian ban on uranium mining was lifted after the 2008 state elections, which saw the Australian Labor Party replaced in government by the Liberal Party of Australia.

Two uranium mining projects in the state are closer to production, the 750 tonne U3O8 Lake Maitland project, pursued by Mega Uranium, and the 680 tonne U3O8 Centipede–Lake Way project undertaken by Toro Energy, located at Lake Way.[3][4]

There has been considerable opposition to the uranium and nuclear industries in WA, especially since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. There have been extensive anti-uranium campaigns from WA branches of the Conservation Council, Nuclear-Free Alliance, and the Anti-Nuclear Alliance.[5] Former WA Greens Leader Giz Watson and Labor MP Sally Talbot have also spoken out against uranium mining, nuclear power, and radioactive waste disposal in WA.[6][7]

Deposits

Current publicly discussed deposits include:[8]

Other deposit names:[9]

  • Thatcher Soak
  • Hillview
  • Dawson Hinkler-Well
gollark: > “We thought my poor grandmother’s remains had been buried in accordance with her wishes,” growls Elizabeth’s direct descendant, Catherine Gratwick. “Can’t you let her rest in peace? This is her body that you’re messing with. You can’t just irradiate and poison her; you must ask me first! How would you like it if your family’s remains were exhumed and mutilated? You must never use cells from deceased people without the explicit pre-mortem consent of the patient or their relatives. As for granny - I insist that all remaining samples of her be buried, and that you financially compensate her family for the pain and grief you have caused!”
gollark: > Two generations ago, scientists took a biopsy of a tumor from a cancer patient named Elizabeth Gratwick, who died soon after. Without her knowledge or consent, these cells were preserved in the laboratory and proved to be exceptionally stable in replication. As stable cancer cell lines are highly useful for medical research, “ElGr cells” have been sent to and used by scientists all over the world. However, objections are now being raised by Elizabeth’s descendants.
gollark: Now I need to answer a question!
gollark: And top 1% for crime.
gollark: * 0.8%

See also

Notes
  1. http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/9997.aspx Department of Minerals and Petroleum, Western Australia - information on uranium in Western Australia
  2. Toro gets WA nod for uranium project adelaidenow.com.au, published: 7 January 2010, accessed: 17 February 2011
  3. Michael Lampard. "Uranium Outlook to 2013–14". Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  4. See also Sas, Nick 2013 Nuclear pull is debatable - The West Australian p. 41, Monday, January 2013 for details of delays and the ramifications of the (1) 2013 Western Australian state election on mining projects (2) the uranium spot price - which has not risen sufficiently for economic conditions for mining
  5. "Anti Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia". Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  6. Courtney Trenwith (22 June 2011). "Get with the times: Parliament told nuclear power is 'so last century'". WAtoday.
  7. "Uranium forum addresses Japan crisis fallout". ABC News. 7 June 2011.
  8. As found in The West Australian Monday, January 14, 2013, Business section, page 41 - Sas, Nick Nuclear Pull is debatable with Yellowcake as title of list found here, order is as found at the Department of Minerals and Petroleum website information on the largest 10 uranium deposit sizes at ww.dmp.wa.gov.au/10002.aspx#12798
  9. http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/10002.aspx#12798
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