Energy Resources of Australia said on Friday the Northern Territory government has rejected its request to renew the uranium mining lease for the Jabiluka deposit.
The company, in which Rio Tinto has a majority stake, had applied to extend the lease for another 10 years, with the current lease due to expire in August.
The Jabiluka uranium deposit, near ERA’s now-closed Ranger mine, is located in Australia’s largely unpopulated Northern Territory and is surrounded by the Kakadu National Park.
ERA was the target of some of the biggest environmental protests across Australia in 1998, including an eight-month blockade and 500 arrests, after the local indigenous Mirarr people opposed the planned development of the Jabiluka concession.
The government would not grant any mineral title over the Jabiluka area once ERA’s lease ceases next month, Northern Territory’s Minister of Mining Mark Monaghan said on Friday.
ERA said it was assessing available options. 
Source: Mining Weekly
