ERA advances Ranger rehabilitation

ERA is continuing on the path of progressive rehabilitation with a significant milestone reached recently, this milestone supports ERA’s long-term vision to return the disturbed area to a viable ecosystem in line with its obligations to stakeholders and regulators, and the expectations of the community.
Since 2012, ERA has spent more than $642 million on rehabilitation and water management at Ranger
See what score you get for your Rehabilitation and Closure program
Find out how to drive progressive mine rehabilitation and closure
Learn more about Decipher’s Rehabilitation and Closure solution

Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has owned and operated the Ranger uranium mine since the start of operations in 1980, and has been one of Australia’s major uranium producers, providing approximately 11% of the world’s uranium demand for fuelling nuclear power plants. ERA‘s shares are publicly held and traded on the Australian Securities Exchange, with Rio Tinto currently holding 68.4% of its shares. Under current operational approvals, ERA is permitted to undertake mining and milling activities in the Ranger project area until January 8, 2021, with final rehabilitation and closure activities to be completed by January 8, 2026. ERA has updated its mine closure plan for the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory with cultural guidance from the Mirrar Traditional Owners.

See what score you get for your Rehabilitation and Closure program

This comes after a stakeholder review ahead of the company’s requirements to cease activities at the site by January 2021. ERA is scheduled to submit an application detailing the closure of pit 3 in November 2020, which requires Commonwealth Ministerial approval. Ranger’s pit 1 rehabilitation has moved 13 million tonnes of bulk material complete the backfill of the pit ahead of revegetation. Pit 1 seedlings planted were previously grown from seeds collected by Kakadu Native plants and sewed in 2019. ERA chief executive Paul Arnold said the company has spent mover $642 million on rehabilitating the ranger site since 2012. “ERA’s priority to care for country is demonstrated by our commitment to achieve best-in-class closure outcomes for the Ranger Mine,” he said.

“This has been shown through our progressive rehabilitation of Ranger and the completion of an entitlement offer earlier this year ensuring we have the funds to meet our rehabilitation obligations.

“Since 2012, ERA has spent more than $642 million on rehabilitation and water management at Ranger.

“The plan, which reflects the complexity of rehabilitating a site in this environmentally and culturally sensitive region, is comprehensive and achievable.

“It is based on long term research, expert studies, best practicable technology, cultural guidance from the Mirarr Traditional Owners and thorough stakeholder review.”

The Ranger mine closure plan was first introduced in 2018, with the 2020 update reflecting new research and feedback.

“The plan takes into account feedback over the past year from the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, the Northern Land Council, the Supervising Scientist Branch, and Northern Territory and Commonwealth regulatory agencies. My thanks to all of these organisations for their contributions” Arnold said.

The Ranger mine is Australia’s longest continually operating uranium mine and has been producing uranium oxide for more than 35 years. Final rehabilitation of the Ranger mine is expected in January 2026.

How to drive progressive rehabilitation and closure

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=340Weed-sww[/embedyt] Originally published by Australian Mining.

Decipher’s Rehabilitation & Closure Solution

rehabilitation compliance software mine rehabilitation software environmental obligations software land rehabilitation software environmental management software environmental data management software environmental monitoring software environmental compliance software - DecipherGreen

Armed with Decipher’s Rehabilitation & Closure solution, including GIS, remote sensing, monitoring and management tools means you can easily capture and analyse a wide range of environmental monitoring data, manage risks and issues around put backfilling, rapid flooding, slope instability and acid generation, and ensure you’re meeting your environmental obligations and compliance with alerts and notifications of exceedances.