Western Australia’s Mines Minister has revelled in the news that his state’s uranium mining sector will no longer face competition from Queensland, after a ban on uranium mining in the Sunshine State was announced earlier this week.
Bill Marmion said uranium miners in WA are now, “ideally placed to capitalise on a looming Queensland Government ban on mining the nuclear fuel ore.”
“The industry can rest assured we are working to maximise uranium opportunities in WA, as opposed to Queensland Labor’s short-sighted approach,” Mr Marmion said.
“What is so exciting is that exports from WA’s four advanced projects could top $1 billion a year by 2020, if uranium prices recover to economic levels,” the Minister said.
“These mines could employ more than 1,500 people during construction and 500 people during operations, not to mention the indirect employment opportunities.”
“Meanwhile, this week’s Queensland Labor announcement defies logic. Not only is the mining sector facing challenges at present, but global energy demand is escalating and nuclear power is an increasingly important lower-emission power source,” The Minister said.
Head of the Queensland Resources Council, Michale Roche, agrees with the WA minister earlier this week saying the decision comes as a blow to the state’s struggling mining sector.
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