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BHP Billiton spending up big to try to pre-empt decision on Olympic Dam big new uranium mine

January 29, 2012

$1.3 billion is  a lot of money to spend on a project that might never come to fruition.  It’s a common tactic, but one that could come unstuck.  But then, I’ve always suspected that Marius Kloppers, Dean Dalla Valle, like many bigwigs might feel that they have plenty of BHP money to splash around –  perhaps an old-fashioned case of more money than sense.

The international news is not encouraging for the uranium industry – though I note that Australia’s mainstream media just ignores facts like  -  the expensive mess of nuclear transport in France and Germany, – the anti nuclear political strength gathering in France,  - the  huge anti nuclear movement and other nuclear hindrances in India, -and the ever downward price of uranium. - Christina Macpherson

South Australia Parliament approves BHP Billiton Olympic Dam expansion, by:Sarah Martin, Adelaide Now, :The Advertiser, November 30, 2011, BHP Billiton will start spending $1.2 billion on equipment for the Olympic Dam expansion in coming weeks after winning final approvals from Parliament for the deal to proceed.

The head of the company’s uranium operations, Dean Dalla Valle, said the approval paved the way for the $30 billion mine to be SouthAustralia’s economic driver for the next 40 years, but gave no guarantees BHP Billiton’s board would approve the project in 2012.

The indenture approval allows $525 million of the company’s pre-approved funding to be spent in South Australia over the next six months as the company begins purchasing long-lead-time items, such as trucks, and starts site works at Roxby Downs.

Despite resistance from the Greens and more than 30 hours of parliamentary debate, amendments to the Roxby Downs Indenture Act passed with bipartisan support yesterday afternoon…. State Greens leader Mark Parnell said the passage of the bill was a ”dark day” for South Australia, accusing the Government of trashing state laws to approve the mine…. The state Greens voted against the legislation, with Mr Parnell saying the Government had voted to turn South Australia into the world’s quarry.

“Future generations are going to be disgusted with us for giving their resources away for a pittance and leaving them to deal with … the world’s largest radioactive waste dump,” he said.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australia-parliament-approves-bhp-billiton-olympic-dam-expansion/story-e6frea83-1226209097762

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South Australian Parliament makes BHP Billiton above the law, with Roxby Downs Indenture Act

January 2, 2012

29/11/2011 The Roxby Downs Indenture Bill today passed the South Australian Upper House. It has now passed both houses of Parliament, enshrining in law an agreement that over-rides some 21 South Australian laws, including state legislation covering radiation protection.

“Since the negotiation of the Indenture Agreement, it has been clear that the parliamentary process would simply be a rubber stamp. For example, in the Parliamentary Select Committee hearing, the opposition had the chance to question BHP for an hour, and the nature of their investigations were along the lines of concerns for the caravans that may be inconvenienced if a road was closed, never mind the tailings dams that are designed to leak,” said Nectaria Calan from Friends of the Earth Adelaide.

“Neither Labor not Liberal have shown any inclination to critically scrutinise the implications of the project, with the government bending over backwards to accommodate the mining giant. BHP wanted to recognise a historical version of the Aboriginal Heritage Act  that was repealed over 20 years ago – they got it. They wanted a mining lease that spans 70 years, despite the fact that their Environmental Impact Statement only covers 40 years – they got it. They wanted the right to be granted the expanded mining lease, covering nearly 50, 000 ha as freehold, free of charge – they got it. They wanted royalties capped for 45 years – they got it,” said Ms. Calan.

The scope of the Indenture Agreement extends far beyond the 40 years covered in the Environmental Impact Statement.

“It’s a strange state of affairs to have an Environmental Impact Statement that only covers 40 years, a mining lease granted for 70 years, and an indenture agreement that creates the right for future mining leases that will not expire until the last of the extended mining leases have expired. The intention appears to be to avoid any further Parliamentary scrutiny at all cost,” continued Ms. Calan.

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BHP’s Mariius Kloppers devious on uranium mining and Olympic Dam

November 28, 2011

Further delays to force BHP’s hand, BY:MATT CHAMBERS, The Australian November 18, 2011, BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers has warned that further regulatory delays on the $20 billion-plus Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium expansion could mean the company looks at other options for its huge cashflows.

Speaking after the company’s annual general meeting in Melbourne yesterday, Mr Kloppers tempered chairman Jac Nasser’s enthusiasm for the project by saying things needed to move quickly.

“In our base-case plan, we’ve got a preferred date for Olympic Dam . . and it’s probably fair to say we’re a little later than we’d like to be,” Mr Kloppers said. ”If something gets delayed, then inevitably, probably what the
management will do, it will present the board with other options. I think that’s important.”

The comments were made after Mr Nasser said $US1.2bn of pre-commitment spending already approved by the board indicated how keen the boardwas to go ahead with Olympic Dam….

Mr Kloppers strengthened previous indications BHP was not looking at producing more uranium from Olympic Dam until well into the expansion’s production life. “The first two phases of Olympic Dam are really copper only and gold only type of things,” he said. “In due course we need to think about whether we extract more uranium, but I
see that as a separate decision, separate kit, separate capital decision, separate returns.”http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/further-delays-to-force-bhps-hand/story-fn91v9q3-1226198302416

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BHP Billiton’s AGM reveals uncertainties, and opposition to Olympic Dam expansion

November 28, 2011

Road ahead looks uncertain for BHP, Canberra Times, BY GREG ROBERTS,18 Nov, 2011   ”……Chief executive Marius Kloppers said yesterday businesses were cutting back on inventory and taking fewer risks as liquidity and trade financing dried up.

  The shareholders’ meeting was dominated by a question and answer session lasting more than three hours, with speakers – including indigenous people who had travelled from central Australia – angrily accusing the company of destroying the environment through uranium and coal mining. The planned Olympic Dam mine expansion would make it arguably the biggest mine in the world.

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BHP shareholders demand answers on environmental dangers of planned expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine

November 28, 2011

BHP Billiton AGM asked about mining radiation risk , ABC News, 17 Nov 11 The environmental credentials of the planned Olympic Dam mine expansion in outback South Australia have been questioned by some shareholders at BHP Billiton’s annual general meeting in Melbourne.

Dr Jenny Grounds from the Medical Association for the Prevention of War has questioned the BHP Billiton board about monitoring radiation exposure levels for Olympic Dam workers. She has also raised the issue of disposal of radioactive tailings by the company “with its open cut mine and the surface tailings piles and the potential for dispersion by dust storms and groundwater retention.”….

Water demands The board also was asked about water demands for the proposed expansion. A desalination plant will be built on upper Spencer Gulf near Whyalla to supply water for the huge mining expansion. Anne Kennedy from the Great Artesian Basin Protection Group says it will produce a surplus of 80 million litres of water daily.

She asked if it would replace water now being drawn from the basin. ”To allocate half of that surplus would enable [the company] to return that same quantity of water to the Great Artesian Basin,” she told the meeting…. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-17/bhp-billiton-agm-environment-olympic-dam/3677110?section=sa

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Olympic Dam agreement all in BHP’s favour, not South Australia’s

November 28, 2011

Opposition industry spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith joined the criticism of the deal struck with BHP Billiton.  Mr Hamilton-Smith said, “Every word of the agreement favours BHP, not South Australians.”

Greens turn new Premier Jay Weatherill blue, The Advertiser, Sarah Martin , November 10, 2011   ”……Mr Parnell agreed that the Greens did not support any expansion of uranium mining in Australia, and argued the mine could be viable without uranium exploration.

“We don’t shy away from the fact that we don’t think we should be playing any part in the nuclear cycle  … but the Olympic Dam mine is overwhelmingly a copper mine.” Mr Parnell said his party was not satisfied with the answers previously provided by the Government, and he would proceed with his amendments.

“I dispute that the questions have been answered and I will ask as many questions as are necessary and will move as many amendments as we think are necessary, and once we have done that we will stop.”

The stoush between the Government and the Greens comes as Opposition industry spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith joined the criticism of the deal struck with BHP Billiton. (more…)

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Australian Greens have serious questions on Olympic Dam uranium mine exxpansion

November 28, 2011

Greens put forward 100 amendments to gridlock mine’s $525 million, by:Sarah Martin, The Advertiser,   November 09, 2011  Greens MLC Mark Parnell said his minority party was “not going to be cut short and stopped from asking the questions that need to be asked”, …. BHP says the revised Indenture Act needs to pass Parliament before the end of the year to trigger spending on preparatory work for the mine…. the Bill’s passage could be delayed until Parliament resumes in February next year…..

WHAT THE GREENS WANT TO KNOW

  • 1. ROYALITIES

    Why did the Government lock in a royalty regime for 45 years, and why is it based exclusively on old-style production-based royalties, rather than one that captures a fair share of mining profits?

    2. ECONOMIC RETURN

    How good an economic deal did SA receive when BHP CEO Marius Kloppers is claiming to his shareholders that the Olympic Dam Expansion will be low cost and highly profitable?

    3. PROCESSING IN SA RATHER THAN CHINA

    How many South Australian jobs will be lost by not requiring BHP to process our ore here in South Australia rather than exporting it to China?

    4. EXEMPTION FROM SA LAWS

    Why is BHP exempt from over 20 South Australian laws that every other mining company in SA has to comply with?

    5. NO URANIUM OPTION

    Why wasnt a No Uranium Roxby Expansion considered when we know it is not only technically feasible, it would also mean less water and energy use and more jobs as the processing would be done here in SA, rather than in China?

    6. GREAT ARTESIAN BASIN

    Why isn’t there a plan to wean BHP off using 42ML/day of ancient water from the Great Artesian Basin, when they plan double that volume in excess capacity (80ML/day) from their desalination plant?

    7. DESALINATION PLANT & CUTTLEFISH RISK

    Why is the Government prepared to risk the breeding grounds of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish by not requiring the company to build in a different location?

    8. RADIOACTIVE LEAKAGE FROM TAILINGS DAM

    How can the Government claim that they have met their public commitment for the expansion to meet worlds best environmental practice when only 4 per cent of the tailings dams will be lined and the dams are designed to leak up to 8 million litres of toxic radioactive waste liquid/day?

    9. RESPONSIBILITY POST MINE CLOSURE

    Who will ultimately be responsible to manage the open pit, tailings dams and rock waste pile for the 10,000 years after the operations cease that the radioactive risk remains: the company or SA taxpayers, and how much will that management cost?

    10. GREENHOUSE POLLUTION & RENEWABLE ENERGY

    Why isn’t the company committing to any investment in cleaner energy to meet their whopping 650 MW electricity demand beyond the 57MW commitment for powering the desal plant (less than 10 per cent of total demand) to reduce their enormous increase in the states greenhouse pollution of 12-15 per cent?

 

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BHP Billiton’s huge new uranium mine – a poor deal for South Australians

November 28, 2011

Roxby Spin vs Reality as Libs Roll-over:       

1)        EPA not fully independent

2)        No guarantee of extra processing on site
Greens Leader Mark Parnell has accused the Liberals of ducking responsibility over the Roxby approval Bill, as more details emerge that undermine confidence in the deal signed between the Government and BHP Billiton.  “The Liberals claim they could have got a better deal.  Well, they still can,” said Greens Parliamentary Leader Mark Parnell.

“It is not too late for the Parliament of South Australia to insist on a much better deal for our State.  We can and should amend the legislation to ratify the Roxby expansion currently before Parliament.  “To roll over and pass the Roxby Indenture Bill unchanged will miss a once in a generation opportunity to get this right,” he said.

The call comes as more gaps emerge in the Government’s claims over the Roxby expansion.  “The Government claims the EPA will be fully independent.  Yet with this Indenture the EPA will still be operating with one hand tied behind its back,” said Mr Parnell.

“Also the Government has talked up the potential to double processing on site at Roxby Downs to 350,000 tonnes of refined copper.  Yet this is not a condition in the approval and there is nothing to stop BHP Billiton ignoring that commitment in the future and export all the ore from the expansion and jobs to China. “And this is on top of locking in a ridiculously low royalty rate for the next 45 years.

“The closer we look, the more concerned we are at the very poor deal the State Government has signed on behalf of all South Australians,” he said.

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Australians not awake up to Olympic Dam uranium mine – a coming catastrophe

November 4, 2011

The project was vigorously opposed from the start by both the local Arabunna and Kokatha peoples …..

 The mining operations are expected to produce 8 million litres of radioactive tailings every day – which will eventually leach into local aquifers – and will create 9 billion tons of radioactive waste that will need to be monitored for the next 10,000 years,

Virtually every adult Australian citizen was aware of the “carbon tax” …Very few, however, were aware that at much the same time, a project had been set into motion that made a complete mockery of any pretensions to act in a an environmentally responsible manner.

Learning To Shine Through The Ruins, By Vincent Di Stefano, 30 October, 2011,Countercurrents.org  ”…….Despite the fact that the Chernobyl melt-down 25 years ago has already cost nearly a million lives , and despite the fact that hot Strontium from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant has been detected on the rooftops of houses in Yokohama 250 kilometers away, the nuclear industry, together with its marketing arm, the International Atomic Energy Commission continues to aggressively pursue their deadly interests.

On October 10th 2011 , both the Australian Federal Government and the South Australian Government obligingly rubber-stamped a massive industrial development at the Olympic Dam mine complex at Roxby Downs in South Australia that will, over the next 10 years, see an additional 19,000 tons of uranium oxide (yellow cake) produced annually for export every year. Australia already exports over 10,000 tons of yellow cake every year.

This mammoth project will result in the creation of the world’s largest open-pit mining operation. (more…)

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SUBMISSION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE Re: Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) (Amendment of Indenture) Amendment Bill 2011

November 4, 2011

SUBMISSION TO THE SELECT COMMITTEE. NECTARIA CALAN, Friends of the Earth Adelaidc  /- Conservation Council of SA
Level 1, 157 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000 Contact: blackwallaby@gmail.com, 26 October 2011

Re: Roxby Downs (Indenture Ratification) (Amendment of Indenture) Amendment Bill 2011

I ask the Committee to revisit the issue of consultation, in regards to the approval of the Olympic Dam
expansion as set out in Clause 11(3) which ratifies and approves the amendments to the Indenture.

There has not been a genuine process of consultation with either the Kokatha or Arabunna peoples, Native
Title claimants or otherwise, or the wider Australian public, both in regards to the establishment of the
Olympic Dam mine by Western Mining Corporation and the process leading to the recent approval of the
Olympic Dam expansion. (more…)

Posted in BHP Billiton, Olympic Dam, opposition to u-mining, politics, Roxby Downs | Leave a Comment »

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