ERA kicks off Ranger 3 approvals process
You can purchase access to this special report or subscribe to Business News.
Subscribe to Business News.
Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia has officially started the approvals process for its proposed Ranger 3 Deeps underground mine as part of a wider $177 million investment.
The Rio Tinto subsidiary today said it had lodged a referral with the federal environment department and a notice of intent with the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority.
ERA has already started construction of a $120 million exploration decline that will allow further exploration of the Ranger 3 Deeps resources, with closed spaced drilling expected to start next quarter.
ERA has allocated $57 million towards a prefeasibility study into the potential development of an underground mine.
The discovery of the Ranger 3 Deeps resources was unveiled by ERA in 2009.
Last week, ERA reported a 1 per cent drop in annual uranium production at its Ranger operation for 2012, producing 3710 tonnes.