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[[Rio Tinto]], one of the world's largest mining companies, has major interests in uranium mining in Australia and in Namibia. It is the world's second largest producer of uranium. <ref name="Rio Tinto submission"> Rio Tinto, "[http://www.pmc.gov.au/umpner/submissions/197_sub_umpner.pdf Rio Tinto Submission to the Review of Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy in Australia]", August 2006. (210kb Pdf)</ref> In 2005, eight mining companies accounted for 78% of world uranium mine production. The three main companies are [[Cameco]] (20%), Rio Tinto (13%), and [[Areva]] (12%). Canada produces 28% and Australia 23%.<ref>Uranium Information Centre, [http://www.uic.com.au/nip41.htm ''World Uranium Mining,''] July 2005.</ref>

Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) was prosecuted following a series of severe radiation safety failures at the Ranger Mine. <ref>Australian Conservation Foundation, [http://www.acfonline.org.au/news.asp?news_id=256 ''Busted: Kakadu uranium miner pleads guilty to contamination'',] Press Release, Undated, 2005. </ref> Ranger has, so far, produced over 30 million tonnes of radioactive tailings, and there have been more than 120 documented leaks, spills and licence breaches. The mine, which opened in 1981, is located in the Kakadu National Park. The incidents have got more sever and more frequent as the infrastructure has aged.<ref>Australian Conservation Foundation, [http://www.acfonline.org.au/news.asp?news_id=Other 779 ''ACF position on uranium mining and nuclear power'',] Press Release May 4, 2006.</ref> RTZ is a member of the [[World Nuclear Association]]. ==Resources=====References===<references/> ===Related SourceWatch ResourcesArticles===

==References==<references/> [[category:Nuclear Issues/Australia]][[Category:Australia]][[category:Nuclear power]][[Category:Namibia]][[Category:Civil nuclear industry]]