Environment

Samphire Uranium Project (20km South of Whyalla, South Australia)

At Samphire, we are committed to collaborating with the immediate and surrounding landholders to improve the quality of the land and local environment to close to pre-pastoral use, which has occurred for more than 100 years at this location, demonstrating that mineral exploration and pastoral activities can successfully co-exist.

During FY23, we were awarded a Commendation in the South Australian Premier’s Awards for Energy and Mining (Environment category) for the Company’s approaches to improving biodiversity and pastoral conditions at the Samphire site, aiming to achieve double the current bush density upon rehabilitation.

Drilling activities are planned and executed with the aim of minimising environmental impacts, while implementing a range of approaches to improve local environmental conditions. Key examples of this include the rolling of native bushes rather than grading to support faster regeneration, planting and maintenance of over 600 native local trees (including endemic Western Desert Myall, Quandong and Sandalwood), local seed collection and direct seeding of exposed soil areas, the management of weed and feral animal populations, and targeted revegetation of critical habitat bush species for identified local bird species.

 

Native seed collection at Samphire – we share the native seed with pastoralists

 

 

 

 

 

We are investigating opportunities for Samphire to be a near carbon-free energy project, through potential adoption of electric vehicles, use of renewable energy should a full mining operation be achieved, sequestering of carbon on-site through photosynthesis (long-lived Myall trees as basis), electric battery on-highway logistics trucks currently being tested to / from the Carapateena site mine, car-pooling and biofuel use in vehicles, amongst others.

Nabarlek North (Arnhem Land, Northern Territory)

Alligator Energy has Exploration Agreements with the relevant Traditional Owners within its project areas in West Arnhem Land, to work with and assist them to manage the unique environmental values of these lands.  This work involves specifically the management of weeds, removal of excess growth where warranted to allow safe controlled burning, erosion management through rapid rehabilitation of exploration areas, and flora and fauna habitat values. One example of this collaboration is the development of bespoke operational procedures to avoid impacts to bush tucker and bush fibre plants (for example, Black, Green and Billy Goat Plum species).

Big Lake Project (Cooper Basin, South Australia)

While very early in program execution and with no on-ground work executed to date, our pre-planning has followed a similar approach to Nabarlek, in particular with respect to the fragility of the semi-arid environment.  Planning approaches are focussed on avoiding disturbance of the form and structure of existing dunes, with preference for working within the large inter-dunal terrain; minimising new earth works and road construction, and water conservation (usage and discharge) including preventing artificial watering points for fauna.