Rio Tinto to rehabilitate uranium mine in Australia

Rio Tinto will manage a five-year project to rehabilitate the Ranger uranium mine in Australia’s Northern Territory for Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA).

The Ranger Rehabilitation Project is taking place under a new Management Services Agreement (MSA). Transition to Rio Tinto management of the project will start immediately and is expected to take about three months.

The agreement follows an approach to Rio Tinto from ERA’s Independent Board Committee (IBC) to submit a proposal to provide services and advice to progress the project. Rio Tinto owns 86.3% of ERA’s shares.

Rio Tinto says that, alongside the ERA, it aims to complete the Ranger Rehabilitation Project to a standard that will establish an environment like the adjacent Kakadu National Park and consistent with the wishes of the Traditional Owners of the land, the Mirarr people, under the MSA.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive, Australia, Kellie Parker says ‘We are pleased to be able to directly provide more closure and project delivery experience and know-how to this critical task. So far, ERA has made progress in key areas, including water, tailings treatment and management and pit rehabilitation.’