Wiluna Environmental Review and Management Programme

The Environmental Review and Management Programme (ERMP), on which Government decisions about the Project will be based, has been on public exhibition up until 31 October 2011, and were accessible by using the links on the front page of our website.  During this period, individuals and organisations were able to make submissions to Government on the Wiluna Project.  This submission period is now closed.

The Project is being assessed under a bi-lateral agreement between the Western Australian and Australian Governments.  Subject to Government and Toro Board approvals, Toro is planning to have the Wiluna Project in production in 2013.

To view the documents for information, please use the following links:

ERMP Document Part 2

Appendices

ERMP - Appendix I

PROCESSING

After the ore is mined, it has to be processed to extract the uranium. Toro proposes to use a heap leach method involving recirculating sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate solutions over piles of ore placed on an engineered liner. The leach heaps would be located close to the orebody to avoid the need to clear large tracts of land. This processing method does not require the establishment of a tailings system for waste management. Once treated, the ore material is returned to the pit void.

PUBLIC AND WORKER SAFETY

All operations on site, including construction, mining and processing, will be conducted under an approved Radiation Management Plan to ensure that radiation exposures are minimised and kept well within regulatory limits.

PRODUCT TRANSPORT

Toro is continuing to study options for transport of product. These options include road/rail via Kalgoorlie to Port Adelaide and Darwin and road only to either Port Adelaide or Darwin. The volume of production at Wiluna would require one 60 tonne road train per month to transport the uranium to either Port Adelaide or Darwin for overseas shipment. Transport of product is subject to stringent regulations applied and monitored by both Australian and International authorities. In Australia, uranium has been transported for almost 40 years without incident from a number of mines and processing plants. In Western Australia alone, it is estimated that there are more than 3,000 movements per year of radioactive material.

ENVIRONMENTAL
 
Toro is undertaking a range of environmental studies that will provide the company and the regulatory authorities with detailed information regarding the existing environment. This will enable Toro to plan and implement the necessary management plans to protect the environment and to effectively develop a rehabilitation and closure plan.


Wiluna Water Barrier Trial

REHABILITATION

At the end of the mine life, Toro will fully rehabilitate the site and return it as close as reasonably practicable to original condition.

OTHER PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE

To support the project, Toro will establish accommodation for the workforce, a water supply borefield based on a local underground aquifer, and up to 10 MW of on-site diesel power generation.

WORKFORCE

The construction workforce will be up to 350 over a period of about 12 months. The operational workforce after that will be up to 170. Toro will seek to employ locally and from within the region, including contracting to local and regional businesses.

PROJECT SCHEDULE

The project is subject to government approvals.

The Western Australian Environment Protection Authority has set the level of assessment at an Environmental Review and Management Programme (ERMP). The Federal Government has determined that the proposal is a controlled action and that it will be assessed under a bilateral agreement between the Federal and Western Australian Governments.

An Environmental Scoping Document (referred to above) was on public exhibition in June/July. This describes the key elements of the project and investigations by Toro to enable a realistic and robust assessment of the project’s potential environmental and social impacts to be finalised. These investigations have formed the basis for the ERMP now subject to a 14 week public review period prior to final Government consideration of the project.



Wiluna Water Barrier Trial

RESOURCE TEST PIT

As part of the Bankable Feasibility Study for the Project, a resource test pit has been completed. The on-site pit involved the extraction of 22,100 tonnes of material.

The test pit has successfully demonstrated:

-   the proposed mining method using a Vermeer continuous mining machine was very effective with
    excellent cut rates
-   the grade control and mineralised selectivity system
-   similar distribution of mineralised material grades to that seen in drilling data
-   the dust selection system on the miner works well

The test pit provided a bulk mineralised material sample for further definitive test work, allowing Toro to advance the Bankable Feasibility Study and finalise the processing option. While groundwater inflows to the test pit were higher than anticipated, partly due to less optimal performance of the installed geopolymer barrier, further groundwater management tests will now be planned, including modifications to the geopolymer barrier and other trials.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Toro has established a Perth based team to undertake project development and management work.