Lake Maitland
Encyclopedia
Lake Maitland is a dry lake
approximately 100 km south east of Wiluna
, in the Mid West region of Western Australia
.
The lake is the site of one of the most advanced uranium mining projects in Western Australia, the Lake Maitland project, which is pursued by Canadian
company Mega Uranium and scheduled for production by 2012. It is scheduled to become the state's first uranium mine.
It is one of three advanced uranium mining projects, the other two being the Lake Way uranium project, to begin production in 2013, and the Yeelirrie uranium project
, which BHP Billiton
hopes to bring online by 2014. All three are located within 100 km of Wiluna.
, which saw the Australian Labor Party
replaced in government by the Liberal Party of Australia
. Two uranium mining projects in the state are expected to begin production by 2012-13, the 750 tonne U3O8 Lake Maitland project, pursued by Mega Uranium, and the 680 tonnes U3O8 Centipede–Lake Way project undertaken by Toro Energy, located at Lake Way
.
The uranium mining projects in Western Australia have attracted opposition from organisations
like the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia, which have attempted to put a hold on them before they reach active mining stage.
The Lake Maitland uranium deposit was first discovered in 1972 by Asarco Australia
. The deposit saw limited exploration efforts in the 1980s, but progress was halted because of a dispute between the joint owners at the time, but also saw frequent changes in ownership.
After some more drilling in 2005 by Redport Ltd, the company was taken over by Mega Uranium in December 2006, who continued drilling and exploration efforts in 2007-08. The future mine, while remote, benefits from existing infrastructure in the region from other mines. It is located approximately 30 km north of the Bronzewing Gold Mine
. A 35 percent stake in the mine is held by Japanese
consortium Japan Australia Uranium Resources Development Co (JAURD). JAURD is jointly owned by Kansai Electric Power
, Kyushu Electric Power and Shikoku Electric Power
, who, between them, operate nuclear power plants.
The mine, expected to have a mine live of ten years, is scheduled to produce 1.65 million pounds of uranium oxide a year.
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
approximately 100 km south east of Wiluna
Wiluna, Western Australia
Wiluna is a complex town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is situated on the edge of the Western Desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway. It is the service centre of the local area for the local Aboriginal people, the pastoral industry, mining, and...
, in the Mid West region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The lake is the site of one of the most advanced uranium mining projects in Western Australia, the Lake Maitland project, which is pursued by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
company Mega Uranium and scheduled for production by 2012. It is scheduled to become the state's first uranium mine.
It is one of three advanced uranium mining projects, the other two being the Lake Way uranium project, to begin production in 2013, and the Yeelirrie uranium project
Yeelirrie uranium project
The Yeelirrie uranium project is a proposed uranium mining project, located approximately 70 km south west of Wiluna, in the Mid West region of Western Australia....
, which BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
hopes to bring online by 2014. All three are located within 100 km of Wiluna.
Uranium mining project
The six-year Western Australian ban on uranium mining was lifted in 2008, after the 2008 state electionsWestern Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
, which saw the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
replaced in government by the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
. Two uranium mining projects in the state are expected to begin production by 2012-13, the 750 tonne U3O8 Lake Maitland project, pursued by Mega Uranium, and the 680 tonnes U3O8 Centipede–Lake Way project undertaken by Toro Energy, located at Lake Way
Lake Way
Lake Way is a dry lake approximately 15 km south of Wiluna, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It also gives its name to a nearby cattle station, the Lake Way Station....
.
The uranium mining projects in Western Australia have attracted opposition from organisations
Anti-nuclear movement in Australia
Nuclear testing, uranium mining and export, and nuclear energy have often been the subject of public debate in Australia, and the anti-nuclear movement in Australia has a long history...
like the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia, which have attempted to put a hold on them before they reach active mining stage.
The Lake Maitland uranium deposit was first discovered in 1972 by Asarco Australia
ASARCO
ASARCO LLC is a mining, smelting, and refining company based in Tucson, Arizona that mines and processes primarily copper. The company, a subsidiary of Grupo México, is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy...
. The deposit saw limited exploration efforts in the 1980s, but progress was halted because of a dispute between the joint owners at the time, but also saw frequent changes in ownership.
After some more drilling in 2005 by Redport Ltd, the company was taken over by Mega Uranium in December 2006, who continued drilling and exploration efforts in 2007-08. The future mine, while remote, benefits from existing infrastructure in the region from other mines. It is located approximately 30 km north of the Bronzewing Gold Mine
Bronzewing Gold Mine
The Bronzewing Gold Mine is a gold mine located approximately 83 km north-east of Leinster, Western Australia. The mine, owned by Navigator Resources Limited, was, until early 2010, in care and maintenance after its previous owner, View Resources Limited went into administration.The mine is...
. A 35 percent stake in the mine is held by Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
consortium Japan Australia Uranium Resources Development Co (JAURD). JAURD is jointly owned by Kansai Electric Power
Kansai Electric Power Company
, also known as , is an electric utility with its operational area of Kansai region, Japan . The company is regarded as one of the leading companies in Kansai, as well as a leader of the Japanese electric power industry....
, Kyushu Electric Power and Shikoku Electric Power
Shikoku Electric Power Company
The is the electric provider for the 4 prefectures of the Shikoku island in Japan with few exceptions. Their image character is .On April 12, 1991 the company instituted Akari-chan as their image character and at the same time introduced the romanized nickname of Yonden .The company is also an...
, who, between them, operate nuclear power plants.
The mine, expected to have a mine live of ten years, is scheduled to produce 1.65 million pounds of uranium oxide a year.
External links
- Names Search Results - Lake Maitland Geoscience AustraliaGeoscience AustraliaGeoscience Australia is an agency of the Australian federal government. It carries out geoscientific research.On a user pays basis it produces geospatial products such as topographic maps and satellite imagery.-History:...
website - MINEDEX website Database of the Department of Mines and PetroleumDepartment of Mines and PetroleumThe Department of Mines and Petroleum is a department of the Government of Western Australia. The department was formed on 1 January 2009, out of the former Department of Industry and Resources and Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, which were split into three new departments, the...
- Mega Uranium website
- Lake Maitland project website