Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has reinforced its plan for the closure and rehabilitation of the Ranger uranium mine near Jabiru in the Northern Territory.
After more than 35 years of uranium mining at Ranger, ERA is required to cease mining and processing activities by January 2021, with rehabilitation to be completed by January 2026.
The rehabilitation plan is updated annually after consultation with traditional land owner representatives, regulators and other key stakeholders.
ERA chief executive Paul Arnold said the company was committed to rehabilitating the site over the next six to seven years, making it one of the NT’s biggest projects.
“With completion of the ranger project area closure feasibility study in February this year, ERA has a consolidated, executable plan to be implemented over the next six to seven years,” Arnold said.
To create the plan, ERA sought feedback from stakeholders including the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, Northern Land Council, Supervising Scientist Branch and NT and Commonwealth regulatory agencies.
“The quality of the plan reflects the efforts of a passionate and capable team at ERA, as well as the valued feedback from stakeholders,” Arnold said.
“ERA has produced an animation in consultation with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, which shows the progressive rehabilitation of the Ranger minesite.
“It’s a great tool which breaks down the rehabilitation process into easily understood concepts, provides a timeline for the works to be carried out and has a narration in local Kunwinkju language.”
ERA is also collaborating with local indigenous business Kakadu Native Plants to harvest and raise seedlings to revegetate the Ranger mine site.
“More than one million trees will be planted as part of the revegetation of the mine site,” Arnold said.
Originally published by
Australian Mining.
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