During 2003 it was agreed that the Jabiluka site would not be mined and the site was placed in long-term care and maintenance. ERA has entered an agreement with Traditional Owners, the Mirarr, stating that no further development will occur at Jabiluka without their approval.

What was the Jabiluka Blockade?

March 2020 marks the twenty-second anniversary of an eight-month blockade involving thousands of peaceful protesters who travelled to support the Mirarr in their fight to stop a mine. The site of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine in Australia’s Northern Territory is now under active revegetation.

How much does it cost to refine uranium?

The cost of the equipment for mining and milling uranium into uranium ore concentrate, which generally takes place on site, is over US $100 million and can even reach into the billions.

Is it safe to live near a uranium mine?

Generally, the highest potential radiation-related health risk for uranium mining or processing facility workers is lung cancer associated with inhaling uranium decay products (more specifically, radon decay products), as well as other non-lung-cancer risks associated with gamma radiation exposure on-site.

Who owns Jabiluka?

Energy Resources of Australia Limited
Jabiluka

What risks does uranium mining pose in the Kakadu region?

destruction of traditional life. Alcohol consumption in the region is very high and poses a major threat to the health and well being of Aboriginal people in the Region.

Is it legal to own uranium?

Yet, the truth is, you can buy uranium ore from places like Amazon or Ebay, and you won’t have to produce any special authorization to get it. The isotope that is used in bombs and reactors is Uranium-235, which is only about 0.72% of the natural uranium ore.

Who is the largest uranium producer?

Kazakhstan
World Uranium Mining Production

Where is plutonium mined?

uranium ores
Plutonium generally isn’t found in nature. Trace elements of plutonium are found in naturally occurring uranium ores. Here, it is formed in a way similar to neptunium: by irradiation of natural uranium with neutrons followed by beta decay. Primarily, however, plutonium is a byproduct of the nuclear power industry.

How much money does Australia make from selling uranium?

Australia has around one third of the world’s uranium resources, and is the world’s third ranking producer, accounting for approximately 10 per cent of annual global production….Australia’s Uranium Production and Exports.

How many uranium mines does Australia have?

Two uranium mines operate today in Australia, Ranger in the Northern Territory and Olympic Dam in South Australia. All uranium produced is exported for nuclear power generation.

What is the history of the Jabiluka uranium mine?

Jabiluka is a pair of uranium deposits and mine development in the Northern Territory of Australia that was to have been built on land belonging to the Mirarr Aboriginal people. The mine site is surrounded by, but not part of, the World Heritage–listed Kakadu National Park.

What is the history of uranium mining in Kakadu?

In the late 1970s, the federal government was keen to open up uranium mining in the Kakadu region. First cab off the rank was the Ranger mine which was imposed on local communities despite the clear opposition of the of Mirarr Traditional Owners. The nearby Jabiluka deposit, also on Mirarr land, was next in line.

Could the Jabiluka mine reopen one day?

The Jabiluka Long-Term Care and Maintenance Agreement signed in February 2005 gives the traditional owners veto rights over future development of Jabiluka. However, in 2007, Rio Tinto suggested that the mine could reopen one day.

What is the Jabiluka campaign?

The Jabiluka campaign was a game changer in the environment movement. It was a movement in which Australians and people from all around the world came together and stood alongside the Mirarr Traditional Owners. People from all walks of life protested together and said this is ours to look after, to care for and not destroy.