Any Jabiluka development long way off-Rio
Date: 19-Apr-02
Country: AUSTRALIA
Rio chairman Robert Wilson told shareholders at the annual meeting that discussions were under way with Aboriginal land owners near the mine site who opposed any development.
"There will be no development at Jabiluka without the consent of the traditional owners," Wilson told the meeting.
Rio Tinto owns 64 percent of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd which already mines uranium in the region at the Ranger mine and which has proposed development at Jabiluka.
"We accept that the local community does not want the site developed," Wilson said, addding it would be at least the next decade before Rio Tinto would consider development proposals.
Rio inherited its interest in the uranium miner when it took over iron ore and metals miner North Ltd in 2001.
Environmentalists have called on Rio Tinto to scratch plans entirely for any development at Jabiluka and to rehabilitate the site which borders the world heritage Kakadu national park in the Northern Territory.
"It is not a question of whether Jabiluka will go ahead tomorrow. We know it won't," said David Sweeney, Rio shareholder and member of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
"We are calling on Rio Rinto to rehabilitate the site."
Rio Tinto shares were eight cents or 0.2 percent higher at A$37.20 in late morning trade.