The Wire

Uranium mining is a contentious issue in Australia and the possibility of further uranium mines opening near Alice Springs is a very real one. The NT Government recently granted a licence to mining companies Cameco Australia and Paladin Energy to explore uranium resources 25km south of Alice Springs. Drilling is expected to strat in 2009, with sites estimated to contain up to $2.5 billion woth of uranium. The question is now how real is the possibility of a mining licence being granted, a decision which will have a great impact on the tourism and pastoral industries.