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Although Rio immediately replaced many on the North and ERA boards, they have been very quiet about their plans for ERA. Rumours abound that they are intent on selling to either French nuclear multinational group Cogema, a major player in the French civilian and military nuclear industries or the Canadian miner Cameco. Cogema already own 7.5% of ERA, and acquiring the Rio stake would give them 75%. Cogema also own the Koongarra uranium deposit in Kakadu, mining of which was vetoed by its traditional owners until 2004. A sale to Cogema would give them outright control of all uranium deposits within Kakadu. With their large uranium exploration program in adjacent Arnhem Land, Cogema would have a corporate fiefdom unheralded in Australia. Rumour has it that Rio wants to sell by March 2001 or it may mothball Jabiluka, seeing it as a viable and profitable long-term project, but not in the present market. So, we need to tell Rio not to sell their stake in ERA to Cogema, or anyone else either. We need to place pressure on Rio to close down Jabiluka and return it to the control of the Mirrar, as well as placing greater emphasis on closing down Ranger earlier rather than later. In November 2000 in Cairns, the Australian government successfully bullied the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO into backing down on their logical and ethical stand opposing Jabiluka on environmental grounds. However, despite strong pressure the Committee did not rule out international participation in safeguarding the cultural heritage of Kakadu. This could mean greater international scrutiny of the Jabiluka project in the months ahead. Gavin Mudd
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the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western
Australia
email robin@anawa.org.au |
