save the Blue Tier
mining on the blue tier
mineral exploration application
State government has received an application (EL31/2010) for an exploration licence from Australia China Corporation of Coal Geology Engineering P/L (ACCCGE) with an office in Queensland. This application covers an area of 62 sq. kms over the Blue Tier and is for 'metallic minerals and atomic substances'.
Several objections were lodged with MRT and a meeting was held on 2011/03/01 between the contractor representing applicant and objectors, with staff from MRT mediating. Following concessions were extracted from the applicant and MRT:
- Two objectors with private properties within the exploration area would have their properties excluded from the application. (A third objector not present at the meeting had his property excluded as well.)
- Residents of Poimena (Lottah?) would be advised of any planned works by ACCCGE and will be invited by ACCCGE to attend any on ground site inspections for work approval.
- Prior to any earthworks a flora (including bryophytes) and fauna (including stag beetles) survey will be undertaken. One of the objectors will be consulted and will assist/advise on the choice of suitably qualified persons to do the bryophyte survey.
- Standard Mineral Exploration Code of Practice Phytophthora cinnamomi controls will apply to all access to the area and any new access will be closed to the public during the work and permanently if the licence is relinquished
- A copy of any Flora and Fauna survey would be given to objectors on completion via MRT. Any surveys provided are protected by copyright for the duration of the Exploration Licence and are not to be reproduced or distributed without the specific authority of ACCCGE.
New York Times, 2011/03/07
'BEIJING (Reuters) - Countries that have come to depend on China for large amounts of rare earths metals should understand that Beijing has environmental concerns for curtailing exports, the Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Monday.'
Solution being to export these 'environmental concerns' to third world regions like Tasmania?
While ACCCGE has not been specific about the minerals they are interested in we can assume that tin (which has surged 653% to $32,347 in ten years to April 2011) and 'rare earths' would be of prime interest. For a pocketful of yuan in government coffers locals may be about to enjoy the privileges mainly confined to the Chinese so far. Following are a few news articles on what we may expect, more to come ...
- 2012/09/13 - The Age: First Weld war looms - Malaysians mobilise to fight Lynas plant
- 2012/09/07 - New York Times: Opponents of Malaysia Rare Earth Plant Promise to Protest
- 2012/05/13 - Reuters: Citizen backlash keeps Malaysia rare earth plant on hold
- 2012/05/03 - Malaysia Today: Prominent blogger alleges Lynas permit was not kosher [allegations not proven but worth a read]
- 2012/05/01 - The Age: Lynas sues Malaysian processing plant opponents
- 2012/02/28 - The Age: Malaysian fears over Australian rare earths plant
- 2011/09/16, New York Times: China Consolidates Grip on Rare Earths
- 2011/07/04, Reuters: Huge rare earth deposits found in Pacific: Japan experts
and The Register points out some difficulties in extracting this. - 2011/06/21, Asian Sentinel: China's Rare Earth Mining Catastrophe
- 2011/05/21, ABC News: Australian rare earth plant 'too toxic'
Fertile grounds for coal-seam test case - 2011/04/23, Asia Sentinel: Chinese Companies Skirt Filipino Mining Laws
- 2011/03/09, nasdaq: Chinese Environmental Regulations Will Change Rare Earth Industry
- 2011/01/07, The Australian: The substances leave a toxic trail, but they are essential for green technology
- 2010/01/10, Daily Mail: Inside China's secret toxic unobtainium mine
- 2009/12/14, PBS: Are Rare Earth Minerals Too Costly for Environment?
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