The social and environmental costs associated with uranium mining are difficult to predict and regulate. By the time environmental and socio-economic consequences become noticeable, the mines have typically closed, changed ownership or become insolvent and thus cannot be compelled anymore to contribute to the remediation, either financially or through other actions. The trust funds are often substantially inadequate to address environmental impacts.
This bleak assessment and other comments are contained in a submission to the Karoo Development Conference (25 to 27 March 2009).
The submission urges that serious consideration be given not merely to the socio-economic, political and financial effects but to the long term negative externalities associated with uranium mining activities. These externaliites include but are not limited to, contamination of ground and surface water, toxic and radioactive dust fallout, contamination of soil and the subsequent damage to human and environmental health.
Of interest is the theoretical representation of the externalization of costs in Uranium mining in South Africa. The graph below show the curve for development and operational costs in red – with a high cost at the outset, long before revenue begins to compensate. The revenue curve is in black, and shows the expected tapering off over time. Of significance is the green curve which represents the Environmental and Social Remediation Curve. Notice how the cost of remediation by far outstrips any profit, and continues well after the revenue stream has dried up. (Reference:”Water, mining, and waste: an historical and economic perspective on conflict management in South Africa” Rebecca A. Adler.)
Serious consideration must be given not merely to the socio-economic, political and financial effects but to the long term negative externalities associated with uranium mining activities, including but not limited to contamination of ground and surface water, toxic and radioactive dust fallout, contamination of soil and the subsequent damage to human and environmental health.
Download the submission here.