Energy for whom? Uranium mining, Indigenous people, and navigating risk and rights in Australia

A Right Way, Wrong Way and Better Way for Energy Engineers to Work with Aboriginal Communities

“…Commercial uranium mining since 1910 has seen a combination of both a flagrant disregard for the health of Country as well as self-determination and decisionmaking-with little or no regard for the concerns of Traditional Owners (Iserles and Brown 1999;Phillips 2015). Graetz (2015) describes the negative impact energy production in uranium mining has had on Australian Aboriginal people, emphasising the importance of developing mutually beneficial outcomes and positive grassroots relationships with Traditional Owners.…”

The Palgrave Handbook of the International Political Economy of Energy

“…Geographically, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Australia account for more than half of global production of uranium, an estimated 70 per cent of which is mined in the traditional lands of First Peoples. 47,48 It is a story well versed that governments permit large corporations to undertake mining on their land in exchange for the growth and prosperity of their country. However, whilst there are some benefits, such practices can be at the detriment of the local area.…”

“…Socially, too, relationships between mining organisations and landowners have typically been damaging, characterised by conflict, negative influence and the denial of rights. 48 An assessment of uranium mining practice within the Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia, for example, illustrates the use of coercive tactics to override opposition. Sovacool and Dworkin 47 (p. 168) report that historically 'operators of both the Jabiluka Mine and the Ranger Mine (both of which are within the national park's boundaries) have been documented intimidating, illegally imprisoning, bullying, and bribing the indigenous Mirrar people into signing over land rights'.…”

“…51 Australia's three operating mines as well as the sites at which major uranium deposits have been discovered, are all situated on the traditional lands of the country's First Peoples. 48 Thus, in this context, the mining industry's focus on CSR necessitates the recognition of newly empowered stakeholders, and engaging with affected communities in a way which is respectful of their host community's interests, knowledge, concerns and objectives. 52,53,48 However, top-down processes for mining decision-making commonly lack legitimacy for indigenous stakeholders 54 .…”

“…48 Thus, in this context, the mining industry's focus on CSR necessitates the recognition of newly empowered stakeholders, and engaging with affected communities in a way which is respectful of their host community's interests, knowledge, concerns and objectives. 52,53,48 However, top-down processes for mining decision-making commonly lack legitimacy for indigenous stakeholders 54 . In this regard our uranium mining case further highlights the political economy of energy justice, where recognition justice cannot exist in silo -it requires the presence of procedural justice too.…”