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🇦🇺 Australia /Energy & Infrastructure

WA government has no plans to change uranium mining ban

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • The Western Australian government will maintain its ban on uranium mining, despite rising global demand.
  • The state's policy, in place since 2017, allows only previously approved projects, none of which have reached production.
  • South Australia remains the only state actively producing and exporting uranium.

Western Australia's government has affirmed its commitment to maintaining the state's ban on uranium mining, even as global demand surges and a significant export deal with India has been finalized. The state's uranium policy, established in 2017, permits projects that received approval from the prior Liberal-National government to continue, but prohibits all new mining ventures. Currently, none of these existing projects have commenced production, with Deep Yellow's Mulga Rock mine being the sole project still meeting the government's criteria. Newly appointed Mines Minister Daniel Pastorelli has indicated no intention to alter this policy ahead of his appearance at the Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum. This stance leaves South Australia as the sole Australian state actively engaged in uranium production and export. A government spokesperson reiterated, "Uranium mining is banned in Western Australia and the state government has no plans to change its existing policy." The spokesperson added, "We know Western Australia will be a global renewable energy powerhouse into the future, and we must do everything we can to bring that industry alive."

Uranium mining is banned in Western Australia and the state government has no plans to change its existing policy.

— SpokespersonConfirming the Western Australian government's stance on uranium mining.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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