WA lifts ban on uranium mining

The West Australian cabinet has lifted a ban on uranium mining, taking effect immediately.

The decision makes way for uranium deposits across the state to be exploited if capital can be raised.

"It is now open to the mining industry in this state, if they wish to proceed with plans to develop the uranium industry," Premier Colin Barnett said last Monday.

"It's significant that Australia has the largest reserves of uranium of any country in the world and is second only to Canada as the major producer and exporter."

The move would not require legislation, he said, because Labor's previous ban on uranium mining was only administrative.

"The one practical difficulty we face is that 1475 mining leases have been issued since June 2002 which exclude uranium mining, so the department is now seeking some legal advice."

West Australian Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore said he had met with uranium producers since the election but would not say which companies had shown an interest in mining.

He said proper processes needed to be put in place first.

"We will put in place quickly the regulatory regime for the mining and transport of uranium," Moore said.

"There's a lot of benefits to be had for Western Australia if we have a uranium industry and I'd like to see it happen sooner rather than later."

Australia currently produces and exports 20% of the uranium on the world market, and is second only to Canada in production and exportation.