Uranium conference to address best practice

Industry experts suggest that technical excellence that supports best practice is critical in the current climate of increased demand for and production of uranium.

World uranium requirements are projected to continue to rise over the longer term as the number of nuclear reactors increases to meet the burgeoning global energy demand.

Australia's Uranium Conference, held by The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Darwin on 15-16 May, will be a forum for sharing skills and knowledge on a range of key technical issues in the uranium industry.

The conference follows on from Australia's first Uranium Conference, which was held in Adelaide in 2006 and was widely attended by technical professionals, regulators, government representatives and members of the Prime Minister's Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Task Force.

"As Australia moves towards important decisions about our position in the uranium supply chain, Australia's Uranium Conference is a significant forum not just for the technical professionals, but for a range of other stakeholders who wish to be informed about the actual state of play of the industry," Mark Chalmers, conference chair said.

"Delegates will also have the unique opportunity to attend tours of ERA's Ranger Operation as well as areas being explored by Cameco and Compass Resources."

The program will cover topics such as uranium geology, exploration techniques, uranium production, mining and milling, waste management, site remediation, radiation safety, stakeholder engagement, as well as broader policy issues around sustainable development and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

"In recognition of the global operating environment, the conference program includes a range of international presentations from established uranium mining provinces such as Canada, as well as emerging locations for uranium mining such as Libya," Chalmers said.