Canadian uranium producer Cameco and Mitsubishi have secured environmental approval for its Kintyre uranium project in remote Western Australia.
The conditional approval, which was awarded by the Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt, follows the approval granted by Western Australia’s Environment Minister in March 2015.
The conditions include covering radiation, ground and surface water, terrestrial fauna and mine closure.
Located 60km south of Telfer and 260km northeast of Newman, at the western edge of the Great Sandy Desert in the East Pilbara region, the project will include an open-cut mine, treatment facilities, an airstrip, as well as an accommodation village.
Cameco Australia Managing Director Brian Reilly said: "We are confident the project can be safely constructed, operated and decomissioned in a way which maintains the ecological functions and environmental values in the area."
"For Kintyre, this means continuing to build strong relationships with stakeholders and identifying additional resources to improve the economics of the project.
Cameco holds 70% stake in Kintyre project while the remining intrest is owned by Mitsubishi Development (MDP Uranium).
Australia Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said: "With positive signs for a price recovery, including recent progress on an export agreement between Australia and India, these mines could be exporting $1 billion worth of uranium by 2020.
"Importantly, they will generate more than 1,500 jobs during the construction phases and 500 jobs once in production."