Aussie miner charged after uranium incident

Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), most of which is owned by London-based Rio Tinto (RTP-N), has been charged in connection with a uranium spill at its Ranger mine in the Northern Territory.

The territorial government has filed two criminal charges alleging ERA breached safety regulations. If convicted, ERA could face a fine as high as A$165,000.

The safety breaches relate to dozens of workers who unknowingly drank uranium-contaminated water in March.

A government report from a subsequent investigation revealed that at least 149 people were exposed to contamination, when radioactive water from the processing plant was accidentally switched to the drinking supply. The drinking water was contaminated for about 10 hours before the mistake was revealed and corrective measures taken.

During those 10 hours, the report says 78 workers had drunk contaminated water, and 28 became ill with various symptoms including headaches and vomiting.

Australian health experts say workers are unlikely to suffer any long-term harm, and the worst possible radiation exposure was the equivalent of a chest X-ray.

Unions say four workers are pursuing legal action but many more workers are likely to file suit now that ERA has been charged.

ERA acknowledged the charges in a statement made to the Australian Stock Exchange. The company supplies 6% of the Western World’s uranium and had sales of A$4 billion last year.

The case will go to court in early November.