BY GAVIN MUDD
15 Jul, 2011 09:00 AM
Plans to expand the Ranger uranium operations pose big dangers.
Inside Australia's largest national park lies one of the country's most controversial mines. Earlier this year it came close to a serious failure that would have contaminated Kakadu, effectively forever. Now, instead of heeding the warning signs, it wants to expand.
On January 28, 2011, halfway through a big Northern Territory wet season, Energy Resources of Australia shut down first the Ranger uranium mill then the mine. As the rain kept falling and the wet season entered the record books, process water levels in the tailings dam exceeded normal limits and fast approached the revised emergency level, and the tailings dam came close to overflowing uncontrollably.
This is a classic industrial risk scenario: the probability is low but the consequences would be catastrophic. It would mean toxic-process water flowing down the Magela Creek and polluting Kakadu's unique wetlands and floodplains. The engineering remediation of such a failure would be extremely difficult and horrendously expensive. Such cavalier risk management for one of the natural and cultural jewels of Australia and the world would not satisfy Dad's Army or Sir Humphrey Appleby.
It should have never come this close to the unforgivable precipice; little wonder that Ranger has been hammered by the market and described as Rio Tinto's ''major shame in this country''.
Read more:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/need-for-greater-mining-rules-to-protect-kakadu/2227589.aspx?storypage=0
