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| A compilation of articles from varied sources describing Rio Tinto's desperate efforts to defuse the Jabiluka issue. | |
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RIO'S MINING RHETORIC TO FALL ON DEAF EARS The Mirrar people of Kakadu today roundly condemned comments by Rio Tinto CEO Leigh Clifford that the company may develop the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine. Spokesperson for the Mirrar, Jacqui Katona, said the company has demonstrated a poor understanding of its legal obligations to the Traditional Owners and will receive a poor response from the international community. "There remains absolute opposition to the development of Jabiluka by the Mirrar traditional owners and Mr Clifford's comments indicate a campaign of bullying and strong-arm tactics," Ms Katona said. Ms Katona said substantial questions that the Mirrar have pursued regarding sacred sites and environmental management remain unanswered. "Is Leigh Clifford willing to desecrate a sacred site and escalate negative social impacts on Aboriginal people to save face on an acquisition minor to the overall Rio group? This will certainly raise further international attention. "To date Energy Resources of Australia has reaped the benefit of a 20-year campaign of transporting an artificial Aboriginal population to the Kakadu region. It is no surprise that Rio is claiming that Aboriginal people support the development of Jabiluka. It is the mining company that has created this so-called support." Claims by Rio (which acquired ERA in August 2000) that ERA has a 'solid' environmental record are undermined by the facts at Ranger and Jabiluka. "The serious and systemic failure of water management practices at both Ranger and Jabiluka belie the claim that ERA has environmental credibility. Only yesterday the Mirrar addressed the dumping of contaminated water from a storage pond at Jabiluka into the mineshaft." At a meeting of the governing committee of Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation the Mirrar yesterday called on the Australian Government to honour its commitment to UNESCO last December to appoint a water specialist to the Office of the Supervising Scientist. The call arose from news that on 13 February ERA had resorted to dumping contaminated water from the so-called interim water management pond to the mineshaft in a bid to manage large volumes of water from the current wet season. "ERA claims this pond was designed to withstand a 1 in 10,000 year rainfall event and yet within just three years it has reached maximum capacity and the company has been forced to these desperate measures. "Rather than inflaming the situation with meaningless mining company rhetoric, Rio now has an opportunity to positively address its legal obligations to the Mirrar people," Ms Katona said. For more information contact Justin O'Brien on 0407 06 00 99
Traditional owners dismayed by Rio Tinto's mine operation Representatives of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory, say they are disappointed that owners, Rio Tinto, are considering operating the mine. Rio Tinto is considering selling the project but chief executive officer, Leigh Clifford, also says the company could retain Jabiluka. Mr Clifford says the company would negotiate with the mine's traditional owners if it does not sell Jabiluka. The Mirrar people oppose the project and spokesperson, Jacqui Katona, says there are several legal obligations that are yet to be satisfied. "They have obligations in terms of environmental management which are currently not being met," she said. "They also have obligations in terms of sacred sites, which is a most serious issue for the Mirrar people and we haven't seen any sympathetic view from Rio as to the protection of sacred sites." © 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Rio
waits for a new era on uranium RIO Tinto would not support development of the controversial Jabiluka uranium project on ground excised from the Kakadu National Park without a significant shift in community opinion and uranium markets, Rio Tinto chief executive Leigh Clifford said yesterday. And efforts to sell Rio's 68 per cent stake in owner ERA, picked up in last year's $3.5 billion takeover of North, remained stalled over price, he said. ERA held all regulatory approvals needed to start mining at Jabiluka by the end of this year, but opposition from the site's traditional landowners forced the company to defer plans to truck ore to its nearby Ranger processing facility until 2006, when the Ranger mine was scheduled to close. With uranium prices still hovering at record lows of under $US8 per pound, and public opposition to the mine, Jabiluka's production prospects were not good, he said. "Development (of Jabiluka) is a matter for the ERA board," Mr Clifford said at a Securities Institute lunch in Sydney. "But given (public and indigenous) opposition, and current market circumstances ... it would be hard for us to support a development in the short term." Not surprisingly, Rio has
made a concerted effort to offload the ERA stake, valued at more than
$340 million during the North bid. Mr Clifford refused to name the potential buyers. He confirmed talks were under way but said price had become a stumbling block. "We were approached by a couple of parties and continue to discuss (a sale) but there certainly hasn't been any meeting of minds about value," he said. With the prospect of a change of federal government looming later this year, however, Rio will be under pressure to settle soon. A Labor government is considered unlikely to approve any sale to a group with French connections. Asked about BHP's planned $57 billion merger with Billiton, Mr Clifford said he expected it to have little effect on Rio. "Those companies are competitors and joint venture partners and I don't see that situation altering with the proposed new structure," he said. Moreover, such consolidaton was good for the industry. "As larger companies emerge, I think there is a stronger focus on returns on capital," he said. News Limited 2001 - finance.news.com.au
MEDIA RELEASE Friday 23rd March 2001 The Wilderness Society
KEY ENVIRONMENT GROUPS WELCOME MOVE TO STOP JABILUKA Key environment groups have today welcomed news of increased doubts over the future of the Jabiluka uranium project inside Kakadu National Park. The news, made in an address to the Securities Institute by Rio Tinto CEO Leigh Clifford, comes on the third anniversary of the start of the Jabiluka protest blockade which involved thousands of people and saw hundreds of arrests. Yesterday Mr Clifford stated that "given (public and indigenous) opposition, and current market circumstances...it would be hard for us to support a development in the short term." Against a backdrop of record low uranium prices, today's Australian newspaper quoted Mr Clifford's assessment that "Jabiluka's production prospects were not good". Rio Tinto became the majority shareholder in troubled Kakadu uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) following its takeover of North Ltd in August 2000. ERA are pushing to develop the controversial Jabiluka deposit despite intense opposition from the regions traditional Aboriginal owners and the wider community. "Rio Tinto have today taken a significant step towards a resolution of this issue," outlined Wilderness Society corporate campaigner Leanne Minshull. "Rio are aware of the difficulties facing any potential developer of this project. We welcome this change in the company's position on Jabiluka and call on them to act to end this project once and for all." Work at the site has been stalled since September 1999 because of this opposition. Environment groups have renewed their call for Rio Tinto to commit to neither selling ERA nor developing Jabiluka and to instead exit the project. "Three years ago today a campaign of mass peaceful civil disobedience began to highlight the threats posed by Jabiluka," stated Friends of the Earth national nuclear campaigner Bruce Thompson. "Today's news is a tribute to the community campaign that continues to prove Jabiluka remains deeply unpopular and should not proceed." The Jabiluka development remains the focus of strong protest action and deep opposition. It has been opposed by the Australian Senate, the European Parliament, a high level UNESCO assessment mission and the majority of the Australian community. "Around the world there has been a clear message that Jabiluka is unsafe, unnecessary and unwelcome," stated NT Environment Centre spokesperson Mark Wakeham. "Halting new uranium mines in Kakadu is good news for the Territory, Australia and the world." Kakadu is Australia's largest National Park and is a remarkable and deeply loved place", outlined ACF nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney." All who care for this region will be heartened to hear this news and will continue their efforts to work for a future for Kakadu free of radioactive contamination." FURTHER INFO AND COMMENT: Leanne Minshull TWS 0417675518 Dave Sweeney ACF 019186746 Bruce Ford FOE 0417 318368 Mark Wakeham ECNT Alec Marr TWS (in Canberra) 0417 229 670
Monday, 26 Mar 2001 at 5:30pm; Category: Financial Wire; High priority; Story No. 8891. Water
from Jabiluka uranium mine not a worry - Aust minister CANBERRA, March 26 AAP - Contaminated water from the Jabiluka mine was nothing to worry about, Environment Minister Robert Hill said today. Senator Hill rejected Australian Democrats concerns about the processes to protect the environment from contaminated water from the mine. "The advice I have been given is that the various systems that are in place for managing water are working well," Senator Hill told parliament. Democrats nuclear spokeswoman Lyn Allison raised concerns that more than 17 megalitres of contaminated water from the Jabiluka retention pond had been pumped into the mine decline. Senator Allison was concerned that procedures in place to protect the environment would not work properly should there be heavy rainfall in the area. But Senator Hill said mining company ERA (Energy Resources Australia) was cooperating with the government's supervising scientist. "The supervision is by the office of the supervising scientist, which of course is a statutory authority," Senator Hill said. "I think anyone who has a serious interest in this matter can be confident that matters relating to Jabiluka will be dealt with in a way that safeguards not only health but the interest of the environment. "I respectfully suggest the honourable senator doesn't have anything to worry about in this particular instance."
Recent Jabiluka Developments : Rio Tinto's announcement and what it means.
On Thursday March 22 Leigh Clifford, the CEO of Rio Tinto ( 68% owner of Energy Resources of Australia) spoke at a Securities Institute lunch in Sydney. He stated that because of continuing Aboriginal traditional owner and wider community opposition combined with a record low market price for uranium that Rio "did not support the development of Jabiluka in the short term". This is a major step in the campaign to stop the mine. It is the first time in Jabiluka's 30 year history that the company that is driving the project has acknowledged that Aboriginal and community concern is both real and valid and has the potential to stop the operation. It is a major vindication of all the efforts made by people everywhere to halt the mine and has made the Jabiluka mine's future more uncertain. But it is not the end of the story. Rio have not said that they won't continue with their efforts to sell ERA /Jabiluka nor have they committed to not developing the mine in the future. We need to continue our efforts to put pressure on Rio to commit to neither selling nor developing Jabiluka. All efforts are useful and welcome and we need to use this significant opportunity to help make sure that Jabiluka remains on the public agenda and a thorn in the side of any company that is involved. Meanwhile ERA continue to face significant water management problems on site at Jabiluka- for several months now ERA have been pumping excess contaminated water down the Jabiluka mine shaft. A briefing paper on water management problems at Jabiluka will be circulated shortly.
Regards and solidarity, Mark Wakeham, Environment Centre NT Dave Sweeney, ACF Loretta O'Brien, Friends of the Earth
Senate Moves The following resolution from Democrats Nuclear Spokesperson, Lyn Allison, was actually passed on the voices in the senate this morning (29 March 01):
CAMPAIGNERS TARGET RIO TINTO AGM Rio Tinto Protesters Demand Return of Aboriginal Land Friends of the Earth campaigners will tomorrow attend Rio Tinto's Annual General Meeting to raise concerns about plans for a gigantic uranium mine on Aboriginal land in Australia. FOE is concerned that Rio Tinto will either construct the mine itself, or sell the development rights to someone else. FOE is calling on Rio Tinto to hand the land beck to the Mirrar Aboriginal people, the traditional owners of the area. Aboriginal rights campaigner on behalf of the Mirrar, Jacqui Katona, will join FOE's protest at the AGM. Jacqui comments: "Rio Tinto cannot mine Jabiluka without desecrating a sacred site. They say they are good corporate citizens with sensitivity to aboriginal issues. Now is the time for them to stand true to these principles. It is simply not possible to develop Jabiluka without attacking what is for the Mirrar people the very fundamental basis of their Aboriginal culture." The uranium mine at Jabiluka will cause irreversible damage to Kakadu National Park, the setting for the Crocodile Dundee films. The mine is located in the heart of Kakadu which is a World Heritage Site. The land has traditionally been owned by the Mirrar Aboriginal people. The Mirrar were forced to sign away the rights to mine Jabiluka in highly controversial circumstances in 1982. The Mirrar have led opposition to the development of Jabiluka, which has resulted in major protests all over Australia and over 500 arrests. Rio Tinto inherited the Jabiluka PR nightmare following their takeover of the Australian mining company North Ltd last year. In a speech to the Australian Securities Institute on 22 March, Rio Tinto CEO Leigh Clifford made it clear that Rio Tinto would not support development of the mine "given (public & indigenous) opposition and current market circumstances". However, he also said that Rio Tinto wanted to offload quickly the Jabiluka operating subsidiary, Energy Resources Australia. Likely buyers include French nuclear utility Cogema. Ed Matthew, Habitats campaigner at Friends of the Earth said: "Corporations must be made responsible for their social and environmental policies. The many millions of British people that have invested in Rio Tinto through pension funds and insurance policies would be horrified if this company allowed the uranium mine at Jabiluka to go ahead. Rio Tinto must not put profits before the planet."
Footage is available on request.
GUNDJEHMI ABORIGINAL CORPORATION MEDIA ALERT - 12 APRIL 2001 Rio's stopgap Jabiluka plans a cop out: traditional owners The Traditional Owners of the Jabiluka uranium mine area, the Mirrar People, have today criticised mining giant Rio Tinto for refusing to commit to neither sell nor develop the controversial Jabiluka mine. Rio Tinto owns the controlling share, 68.4%, of the beleaguered Kakadu uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA). Questions on the future of Jabiluka dominated the recently concluded Rio Tinto annual general meeting in London, which heard detailed statements from the floor by Mirrar spokesperson Jacqui Katona. Ms Katona outlined the legal, commercial and ethical obstacles facing any developer of Jabiluka or future purchaser of ERA. Speaking from London tonight, Ms Katona said the company's announcement is a cop out and a missed opportunity for Rio. "Today Rio missed an opportunity to protect the World Heritage values of Kakadu National Park and the cultural integrity of the Mirrar people. Its international corporate reputation will directly suffer as a consequence," Ms Katona said. Ms Katona added that Rio Tinto's Australian annual general meeting in Sydney on 27 April would be the focus of renewed efforts against the controversial mine. For more information contact Jacqui Katona in London on 0438 08 22 11 or Justin O'Brien on 0407 06 00 99
Mon, 16 Apr 2001 5:18 ACST Rio Tinto urged to rule out Jabiluka development The Australian Conservation Foundation is calling on mining company Rio Tinto to completely rule out developing the controversial Jabiluka uranium mine in the Northern Territory. After nine months of assessing the Jabiluka project, Rio Tinto has announced uranium mining will not start at the site, which is surrounded by Kakadu National Park, for at least 10 years. The foundation's Dave Sweeney says the company's decision is an acknowledgment of the major obstacles facing the project. "Rio Tinto know it's unpopular, they know the traditional owners are opposed, they acknowledge that there's a whole range of political and technical and scientific and ethical problems in front of any development of Jabiluka," he said. "But what they haven't done is make the call which traditional owners and national environment groups and the wider community is asking Rio to do and that is to commit to neither sell nor develop Jabiluka." © 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western
Australia
email robin@anawa.org.au |
