Poor year for Australian uranium
25 January 2011
Australia's uranium production took a hit during 2010, with the lowest volumes since 1998. Total production was 6957 tonnes of uranium oxide (5899 tonnes of uranium, tU), compared to a high of 10,277 tonnes (8715 tU) in 2008, after problems including high rainfall at Energy Resources of Australia's Ranger mine and the mid-year haulage system accident at BHP-Billiton's Olympic Dam. Individually the country's three mines produced the following: Olympic Dam, 2747 tonnes (2329 tU); Ranger, 3793 tonnes (3216 tU); Heathgate's Beverley mine, 417 tonnes (354 tU). Next year, Uranium One's Honeymoon mine is expected to begin operation.