A uranium miner backed by Rio Tinto has applied for a 10-year extension to its mining lease over the famous Jabiluka deposit.
A uranium miner backed by Rio Tinto has applied for a 10-year extension to its mining lease over the famous Jabiluka deposit in the Northern Territory, reigniting tensions with the land’s traditional owners.
Since the signing of the 2005 care and maintenance agreement, Rio Tinto has made clear that Jabiluka will not be developed, because of long-standing traditional owners’ objections. The company said extending its mining rights would give the traditional owners control over the Jabiluka deposit, including the right of veto over any future development.
“How could anyone consider giving or extending a mineral lease to a company that is $2 billion in the red? No other mining company would seriously apply for a mineral lease with this balance sheet,” van den Boogaard said.“Right up until 2020, they said they would have Ranger all cleaned up by January 2026 … now they say they don’t know how long it will take,” she said. “I’m very worried. We can’t trust this company, very soon they will have nothing left.