Nuclear Free WA protested outside Deep Yellow鈥檚 annual general meeting (AGM) on November 25 against the company鈥檚 plans to mine uranium聽at Mulga Rock, north west of Kalgoorlie. The Upurli Upurli traditional owners absolutely oppose it.
Deep Yellow holds the only uranium deposit in Western Australia. This was the company鈥檚 first AGM following its merger in August with Vimy Resources.
Mia Pepper, Nuclear Free Campaigner at the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA), who has been tracking the mine plans for more than 10 years, said it faces more opposition than ever.
Deep Yellow does not have 鈥渁ny agreement with the Native Title claim groups鈥 and 鈥渋t doesn鈥檛 have the finance鈥, she said.
It has just started a third聽Definitive Feasibility Study聽into the beleaguered project, expected to be completed mid-2024. The latest project delay casts further doubt on the future of the site, campaigners said.
鈥淒eep Yellow is the only company beating the uranium drum in Western Australia and even their own executive team has been clear they have no intention to mine at the current uranium price,鈥 Pepper said.
鈥淔or a company with a highly speculative business model, no operating mines, many regulatory hurdles still to clear, and a sizeable pricing disincentive, it鈥檚 astounding that shareholders would endorse the proposed remuneration package for the Deep Yellow executive team, with the CEO alone receiving over $1 million,鈥 she said.
First Nations communities have been continuing their protests.
WA Greens Legislative Council member Brad Pettitt read a statement in parliament on November 17 on behalf of聽.
鈥淲e are Upurli Upurli and Spinifex women and we are writing because we face the unprecedented threat of uranium mining at Mulga Rock, east of Kalgoorlie 鈥 We have been saying no to uranium mining at Mulga Rock for a long time.鈥
Their statement also detailed concerns about Deep Yellow鈥檚 executives who held senior roles in companies responsible for the destruction of Juukan Gorge, as well as several incidents of environmental pollution, industrial relations controversies and workplace fatalities at uranium mines in Malawi and Namibia.
The CCWA is delivering a to WA MPs. It demands they 鈥渞eview and remove any approval for uranium mining at Mulga Rock鈥 as well as withdraw the approvals of the stalled proposed uranium mines at Kintyre, Yeelirrie and Wiluna.