Any plans for a proposed uranium mine at the Angela and Pamela deposits near Alice Springs have been knocked back by the Northern Territory government.
The project which Cameco Corporation is considering comes under federal government jurisdiction as it is a uranium project.
Angela and Pamela are two adjoining deposits located in the centre of Australia within the Northern Territory, 25 km south of Alice Springs. Cameco operates the project under a 50-50 partnership with Paladin Energy Ltd.
Yet the by election which is to be held in the city in a fortnight’s time has politicized the Angela Pamela mine site. The government announced that it would oppose the mine which is currently in early exploration stage. Chief Minister Henderson’s statement stunned the mining company and other business owners.
The Minerals Council of Australia said that the declarations of the government and opposition were very premature and made no sense. The final decision for the mine proceeding lies with the federal government.
This decision begs the question on why the NT Government bothered to grant the joint venture partners an exploration licence for Angela and Pamela in 2008 in the first place.