Western Australia (WA) uranium miners need to work to gain the trust of local residents as they transport yellowcake through suburban areas, Energy and Minerals Australia (EMA) managing director Chris Davis told MINING DAILY.
According to Davis, it will take time for WA residents to be at ease with yellowcake transport, unlike residents of other states or territories with established uranium industries.
“People in the Northern Territory and South Australia are already very comfortable with the production and transport of yellowcake,” he said.
“It has been exported from Darwin for 30 years and to reach Darwin Harbour it has been going through residential suburbs.
“The people from Western Australia need to become accustomed to the transport of yellowcake and understand how small the risk is.”
EMA last week announced it is planning to raise $12.16 million to develop its Mulga Rock uranium project east of Kalgoorlie.
The funds will be used for further exploration and drilling, a scoping study, working capital and tenement maintenance.
According to Davis, the timing of the Mulga Rocks development is key as much of the world moves towards nuclear power.
“World Nuclear Association data shows that the nuclear reactors coming on line between 2013 and 2018 could result in a deficit of supply by 2013, which is when we come one line,” he said.
“This will place the company is a strong position to engage with uranium end users.”