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Ranger Uranium Project: Government Agreement (9 January 1979)
Date:	9 January 1979
Sub Category:	Commercial Agreement \| Joint Venture Agreement
Place:	Ranger Project Area
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State/Country:	Northern Territory, Australia
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	The Ranger Project Area is 250 km east of Darwin, surrounded by the Kakadu National Park.
Subject Matter:	Mining and Minerals \| Employment and Training \| Recognition of Traditional Rights and Interests \| Economic Development \| Compensation \| Environmental Heritage
Summary Information:
The Ranger Uranium Project: Government Agreement (the Agreement) dated 9 January 1979 was entered into between the Commonwealth of Australia (the Commonwealth), Peko-Wallsend Operations Ltd (Peko), Electrolytic Zinc Company of Australasia Limited (EZ), and the Australian Atomic Energy Commission (AAEC), which provided for, amongst other things, the development and mining of uranium ore deposits within the Ranger Project Area and the production from those deposits of uranium concentrates. This Agreement was subsequently amended on the 12 September 1980 and became known as the Government Agreement as Amended.
Detailed Information:
The Agreement is for a period from the date of the granting of the first Commonwealth Authority under Section 41 of the Atomic Energy Act 1953 until '20 years after the date of the death of the longest surviving lineal descendant of the late King George VI living at the date of execution of this Agreement', unless otherwise terminated in accordance with this Agreement. The Agreement provides for the carrying out of a venture for the following objects: the discovery, development, proving up and mining of uranium ore deposits within the Ranger Project Area (RPA); the construction, operation and maintenance of a mine and treatment plant for the production of Ranger uranium concentrates and other mineral products; the delivery of uranium concentrates and other mineral products to the Commonwealth; and the treatment of uranium bearing ores mined outside the RPA. The venture was to be conducted as a commercial venture and in accordance with good commercial, mining and industrial practice, with the intention that it would continue during the economic life of the uranium ore deposits in the RPA. The Agreement deals with the operations and management of the venture and by Article 10, sets up a Ranger Joint Venture Committee comprising of 4 members - 2 appointed by AAEC, and one each by Peko and EZ. The Committee is responsible for making fundamental policy decisions concerning the joint venture activities. The Agreement contains provisions relating to an Agreement between the Commonwealth and the Northern Land Council under section 44 of the ALRA (s 44 Agreement), covering such issues as: environmental requirements; Aboriginal liaison; employment and training of Aboriginals; local business development; control of liquor; restricted areas; rights of Traditional Owners; instructions in Aboriginal culture; and payments under the s 44 Agreement. The Agreement deals also with other matters such as: rehabilitation of the RPA; the production or recovery of other mineral products within the RPA; the treatment of uranium bearing ores mined outside the RPA; taxation; defaults and remedies; arbitration; assignment and charging; replacement of stockpile borrowings; payments to the Northern Territory pursuant to the MOU; reporting; confidentiality; use of airstrip, roads and facilities; notices and payments. Annexed to the Agreement is a Memorandum of Understanding entered into on the 28 October 1975 between the Commonwealth Government, Peko and EZ, the s 44 Agreement, and an Authority under section 41 of the Atomic Energy Act 1953.