09 April 2014

  • Independent expert's recommendations on asset integrity and maintenance at the Ranger processing plant accepted by ERA Board ERA Board approves restart readiness plan, based on independent expert's recommendations on asset integrity and maintenance
  • Implementation of ERA's restart readiness plan scheduled to be completed in April 2014
  • Management authorised by the ERA Board to continue its active dialogue with regulatory authorities and stakeholders to ensure a timely restart
  • Restart of processing operations remains subject to Ministerial and regulatory approvals
  • Ongoing monitoring confirms that the surrounding area has not been affected by the leach tank failure, with no impact on Kakadu National Park

ERA Board approves restart readiness plan

On 27 March 2014, ERA announced that the work to dismantle and remove Leach Tank 1 and associated infrastructure from the Ranger processing plant and the independent investigation it commissioned into the failure of the leach tank were complete. In parallel to these activities ERA has been progressing inspections, repairs and related works at the Ranger processing plant.

The ERA Board has now approved the scope of work to bring the processing plant to readiness for restart. The restart of processing operations remains subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals. The relevant authorities include the Commonwealth Minister for Industry and the Executive Director of the Department of Mines and Energy in the Northern Territory.

The scope of work to bring the site to readiness for restart is in line with the independent asset integrity and maintenance review of the Ranger processing plant commissioned by the Company. The scope of work is scheduled to be completed in April 2014.

In addition to the recommendations of the asset integrity and maintenance review, the scope also incorporates work identified by ERA's own risk assessment activities and includes the rectification of processing plant infrastructure that was damaged when Leach Tank 1 failed.

ERA is continuing to work with members of the government-appointed taskforce in order to satisfy the taskforce's terms of reference in a timely manner, and to keep the taskforce and key stakeholders informed of developments in relation to the recovery from the failure of Leach Tank 1.

Containment systems effective

Ongoing monitoring confirms that the surrounding area has not been affected by the tank failure and that ERA's containment systems worked to design, with no impact on Kakadu National Park.

All other activities at Ranger, including rehabilitation, water management and the Ranger 3 Deeps Exploration Decline, continue as scheduled.

About Energy Resources of Australia Ltd

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) is one of the nation's largest uranium producers and Australia's longest continually operating uranium mine.

ERA is a major employer in the Northern Territory and the Alligator Rivers Region.

ERA is proud of its diverse workforce of more than 500 people, of which 16 per cent are Indigenous people.

ERA has an excellent track record of reliably supplying customers. Uranium has been mined at Ranger for three decades. Ranger mine is one of only three mines in the world to produce in excess of 110,000 tonnes of uranium oxide.

ERA's Ranger mine is located eight kilometres east of Jabiru and 260 kilometres east of Darwin, located in Australia's Northern Territory.

For further information, please contact:

Media Relations
Carl Kitchen
Office: +61 8 8924 3550
Mobile: +61 401 691 342
Email: carl.kitchen@era.riotinto.com

Dan Hall
Office: +61 8 8924 3514
Mobile: +61 457 532 270
Email: daniel.hall@era.riotinto.com

Investor Relations
Christopher Maitland
Office: +61 3 9283 3063
Mobile: +61 459 800 131
Email: chris.maitland@riotinto.com

Website: http://www.energyres.com.au/
Twitter: Follow @ERARangerMine on Twitter



ASX Announcement - Ranger leach tank recovery - Update on restart of processing plant [PDF: 78 KB]

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