The Northern Territory (NT) Government has refused to renew a mining lease covering the Jabiluka uranium deposit in Australia. The deposit is managed by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto. The decision affects a long-running dispute over uranium mining in the region.
ERA had requested an extension of its 42-year lease for the Jabiluka Uranium mine by an additional ten years. The existing lease was scheduled to expire in August 2024. ERA’s renewal request was linked to maintaining an agreement with the Mirarr Traditional Owners, who hold a right to veto development on the Jabiluka deposit.
Federal advice and uranium regulatory requirements
The NT Government decided not to renew the lease after considering federal advice. The refusal is described as being based on regulatory requirements applying to uranium, which is classified as a prescribed substance. NT Mining Minister Mark Monaghan said the assessment process was thorough and considered stakeholder views.
Monaghan said the review included the position of the Mirarr people as well as federal government advice. ERA said it was disappointed by the outcome and is examining its options following the decision. The next steps for ERA were not specified in the available information.
Reserved Land designation from August 2024
In May, the NT Government announced it would designate the Jabiluka area as Reserved Land. That status is set to take effect when the current lease ends on August 11, 2024. The designation would prevent new mineral title applications in the area.
The NT Government described the Reserved Land measure as intended to prevent future mineral exploration and development in the region. With the lease renewal denied, the Reserved Land framework is set to further define what can occur around the Jabiluka uranium deposit after August 2024.