It appears that Rio Tinto is set to sell the Ranger Uranium Mine and proposed Jabiluka mine to Cogema, the French government nuclear arm. Negotiations have been under way for some time, with Rio Tinto unwilling to push the Jabiluka project forward since aquiring parent company North Limited earlier this year. Rio Tinto is believed to have spoken to Cogema and also Cameco, the Canadian uranium mining giant. Negotiations have been hung up on the price of the mining operations, with Cogema unwilling to pay too much owing to the political sensitivities of the project.

Cogema is a ruthless operator with strong interests in the French nuclear weapons programme and civil nuclear power industry. They will not purchase ERA unless they see some way of developing the Jabiluka mine, as Ranger deposits are almost mined out.

Write to Peter Costello...quick!

The sale will need to be approved by the Foreign investment review board and the Treasurer, Peter Costello. Costello has been non-comittal to this point but we have a small window of opportunity to put some pressure on him. We have a form letter ready to post or email here.

World Heritage Committee meets again

The World Heritage Bureau meets on Thursday and Friday (23-24 November 2000) in Cairns, Queensland.The World Heritage Committee then meets Mon 27th to Sat 7th December. Jabiluka will be on the agenda, with the Australian Government to report back on 'progress' with the issue as requested at the last meeting. The Mirrar are doing everything possible to have their side of the story heard by the Committee. A report from Friends of the Earth, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Environment Centre Northern Territory will be presented at the meeting. The World Heritage values of Kakadu have never been in doubt, but how can millions of tonnes of radioactive waste be compatible with these values?

While Rio Tinto have been silent on the issue, the Australian Government has shown no such restraint:

"We're very confident of the outcome of that meeting simply because the facts speak for themselves," Senator Minchin reported confidently, "It is abundantly clear to any fair and reasonable person that this mine operates extremely satisfactorily and...in a very strictly regulated way in Kakadu and is not a threat to the park."

The majority of Australians who want Jabiluka stopped might also see themselves as 'fair and reasonable', and object to Senator Minchin still pushing the same old line on Kakadu.

Watch this space for more info soon...