13 December 2013

Update on leach tank incident at Ranger mine

Energy Resources of Australia has acknowledged the terms of reference for a joint investigation and review into the failure of a leach tank at Ranger Mine on Saturday 7 December 2013.

ERA Chief Executive Andrea Sutton said the company would assist a Government-appointed taskforce, consisting of regulatory authorities and key stakeholders, as it moves to address the terms of reference.

"There will be a full investigation into the incident and we are cooperating with Commonwealth and Territory regulators, and key stakeholders," Ms Sutton said.

"We are committed to working with the taskforce on its objectives for an investigation and review that will be delivered in a timely manner."

On Friday ERA met with regulators and key stakeholders on Ranger mine's Minesite Technical Committee to discuss clean-up operations and the ongoing regulatory response to this incident.

The MTC is comprised of the Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy, the Office of the Supervising Scientist, the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC), which represents the Mirarr Traditional Owners, and the Northern Land Council.

An external expert structural engineer has been advising ERA on its clean-up operation. ERA has received advice from the structural engineer that the support structure surrounding the remaining leach tanks, and the remaining leach tanks, are structurally sound.

Meanwhile, monitoring at Ranger Mine has shown radiation dose levels are well within safe daily limits and continuous water quality monitoring has confirmed creeks and billabongs surrounding Ranger Mine have not been affected.

The leach tank incident released slurry in the site's processing area, but the release was fully contained onsite with no impact to Kakadu National Park.



Update on leach tank incident at Ranger mine [PDF: 303 KB]

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