Toro Energy has received Australian federal government environmental approval for its Wiluna uranium project in central Western Australia. Announced on April 2, 2013, the federal environmental approval was the last major approval required to clear the way for the proposed A$269-million Wiluna mine to become Australia’s sixth uranium producer and the first in Western Australia.
The Wiluna mine plan calls for surface mining of two deposits. The conventional alkaline tank leach processing plant is designed to process 1.3 million mt/y of ore and to produce 780 mt/y of U3 O8 concentrate over a 14-year mine life. Head grade to the plant is estimated at 716 ppm. Cash operating costs are estimated at $37/lb U3 O8.
