Uranium mining controversy in Kakadu National Park

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Kakadu National Park, located in the Northern Territory of Australia, possesses within its boundaries a number of large uranium deposits. The uranium is legally owned by the Australian Government, and is sold internationally. This mining, and the presence of uranium in Kakadu have come under controversy, due to the widespread publicity regarding the potential danger of nuclear power and uranium mining.

Kakadu can be found on the World Heritage List, both for its cultural and natural value, a unique feat because few sites are featured for both reasons.

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[edit] History of Uranium mining in Kakadu

Uranium ore was found in Kakadu in 1969, and in 1980 the Ranger Uranium Mine was completed. From the very start it was shrouded in controversy, with local Aboriginal groups protesting.

A license to mine Uranium in the park was granted in 1982.Following a lengthy and exausting negotiation process, Indigenous leaders agreed to terms with Energy Resources of Australia to allow the construction of a Uranium mine at Jabiluka. Scepticism remains to this day over the fairness of this agreement. Some suggest that indigenous leaders were worn down by the negotiation process and compromised in order for it to be finished.[1]

In 2005, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee announced that they considered the park to be under threat because of Uranium mining[1], but this tag was removed in 2006 after pressure from the Australian government.

[edit] Potential danger and controversy regarding Uranium mining

Uranium has the potential to be a highly dangerous substance when not treated in the proper manner, remaining radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years. Uranium mining in Kakadu could permanently damage the environment in Kakadu, as well as the sacred Aboriginal sites which have been part of the local culture for tens of thousands of years.

Nuclear power and the extraction of raw uranium ore is notorious for the hazardous waste it is likely to produce. This waste may poison Aboriginal water and food supplies, with disastrous consequences for local indigenous groups.

In 2005, a number of mining workers in Kakadu were poisoned by contaminated water.[2] Mining is continuing in the same fashion despite this safety wake-up call.

[edit] Benefits of Uranium mining

The benefits to Australia of uranium mining in Kakadu are mainly economical. Australia possesses 24% of the world´s Uranium deposits, [3] and the sale of this uranium has potential to be a huge boost for the Australian economy.

From 2000-2005 nearly 50,000 tons of Uranium oxide were exported from Austraila to eleven different countries. This brought over A$2,1 Billion dollars to the Australian economy.[3]

[edit] Sale of Uranium and related issues

With the sale of uranium comes the threat that the uranium could be used to build deadly nuclear weapons - so as of 2006, Australian uranium is only sold to countries having signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, guaranteeing it will only be used for energy and not for weapons.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Shame 2000: Uranium mining in Kakadu. Shame 2000 (2004-11-11). Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
  2. ^ Anne Barker. "Ranger Uranium Mine resumes production despite contaminated water incidents", PM, ABC, 2004-04-13. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
  3. ^ a b Australia's Uranium and Who Buys It. Uranium & Nuclear Power Information Centre (2004-11-11). Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
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