The Jabiluka Uranium Mining Project - Essay Example

Stakeholder Dialogue: Local Citizen Supporting Jabiluka Uranium Mining Introduction This paper reflects the facts related to stakeholder dialogue inrespect to the Jabiluka Uranium Mining project located within the boundaries of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia. (The Problem-Jabiluka, 2001) The paper briefs the term stakeholder dialogue, sustainable enterprise etc., and gets into detail evaluation of a stakeholder dialogue where a local citizen supports Jabiluka Uranium Mining Project. The dialogue is supported analytically through SWOT analysis providing clearly the strategy and prospects in the dialogue. Finally, the study is analyzed and concluded justifying the research statement to be true. Jabiluka Uranium Mining - An Overview The Jabiluka mine at Kakadu National Park, in the Northern Territory is located adjacent Magella Creek, a flood plain. It is located 230 km towards the east of Darwin and 20 km north of Jabiru, which is near the tourist route to the ancient Aboriginal Ubirr rock art sites. (ANAWA - Jabiluka, 2000) The venture is taken forward as a sustainable enterprise in environmental aspect, with reducing costs from prevention of pollution and eco-friendly nature. (Andrews, 2003:11) Sustainable Enterprise An enterprise or a business carried out not only for profits but also for maintaining a sustainable combination of factors which balance the social and natural environment is called a sustainable enterprise. It is actually the business opportunity tapped without effecting natural degradation for the environment or in other words the economic objective is gained through safeguarding the natural resources for sustainability. (Andrews, 2003:1) This new concept aims at working in collaboration with companies or organizations to coordinate and consider natural, social and environmental factors in their decision making and thereby guaranteeing long-term sustainability. (Corporate Social Responsibility, 2006) Stakeholder dialogue A significant characteristic of sustainable enterprise is its open scenario of business with a wider environment perspective and a strong dedication to the system. In relation to this managing an open dialogue with the stakeholders is inevitable. (Sustainable Enterprise, 2006: 2) Individuals or groups having interest in a particular venture are called stakeholders and listening to and recognizing their views for a decision by a sustainable enterprise is known as stakeholder dialogue. For instance, The Jabiluka Action Group (JAG) set up for Jabiluka Uranium Mine in Kakadu National Park, held a campaign involving stakeholders. JAG succeeded in positioning themselves as core stakeholders. (King, 2000) Research Statement A Stakeholder Dialogue supporting Jabiluka Uranium Mining by a local citizen. Local Citizen as a stakeholder in support The current paper tries to capture the stakeholder dialogue of a local citizen supporting the Jabiluka Uranium mining project. The local citizen as a stakeholder upholds the benefits that could be reaped as a result of this venture. The stakeholders view is substantiated with the support of detailed analysis on the topic to compare and arrive at the benefits. For evaluation of the project, the current paper uses SWOT analysis. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is a simple and powerful tool used for business analysis. The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are noted individually. After that the numbers are counted and arrived at as to whether the venture has more strengths and opportunities or suffer threats and weakness. In this paper SWOT tool is used to determine the strategy and prospects of a local citizen as a stakeholder supporting the Jabiluka project. Thus, it tries to find out the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats for the stakeholders interest in relation to the project. Strengths Being a sustainable enterprise, the Jabiluka Mining has its enforced framework to protect the environment and save the interest of the local citizens. Sustainable Enterprise Programs (SEP) has been set up to monitor the mining activities ensuring profitable solutions to environmental development. Thus it helps Creating a better energy future Conserving, using and maintaining natural resources Shaping the economic factor to optimize social and environmental benefits Increasing stakeholder dialogue or interactions which help to thrive with best business practices Enabling shareholders and stakeholders from all the levels to reap optimum performance. Jabiluka Mining is also obliged to SEP norms and follows them which are highly rewarding for a local citizen. (WRI Program, 2006) Another significant aspect is its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR is adhered to by the Jabiluka venture through simultaneous improvement of financial, social and environmental demands. Engaging the stakeholders and considering their views with expanding the business responsibility have direct impacts on the important strateies and decisions of the venture. (European Road Map for businesses, 2006: 2) Through this process the local citizen is given the opportunity to draw the company's attention to challenges if any. The stake holder will also get to know the impact and implications of the current operations through this. Hence, it is also a positive aspect from the view point of a stakeholder. (European Road Map for businesses, 2006:5) As per the Kakadu Region Economic and Institutional Overview Study, it has been estimated that the traditional owners of mined land receive $500, and that too four times a year as mining royalties. Surveys have also mapped the Jabiru region with the highest proportion of social security recipients. (KREIOS, 1997) This too proves optimistic as a local citizen is concerned as the income still reigns with the traditional owners and there by the development of the locality is ensured. Uranium from all parts of Australia including Jabiluka Mining project is exported for exclusively peaceful purposes only to the partner countries under the Bilateral Safeguards Agreement. These agreements serve as a confirmation that Australia's nuclear exports are used only for peaceful purposes and could not be retransfered to any other country which does not have a Bilateral Safeguards Agreement with Australia. The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) protects and monitors the 'Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987.' Australia currently has 19 Bilateral Safeguards Agreements with 36 countries for peaceful use of uranium. (Nuclear Extracts and Safeguards, 2005) The uranium sold out by Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA) from the Jabiluka Mining Project is used only for generating nuclear electricity. The exchange is made possible only with strict compliance with the Safeguards Act and practices. (Uranium Industry - Overview, 2005) Weakness However, the benefits from Stakeholder dialogue can be experienced as per individual business practices. The shareholders, Directors, Executive Managers etc., which fall under the 'Traditional stakeholder' category, could make an impact through their voting rights. The other category which includes creditors, suppliers, employees etc could influence through the revenue structure. But the activists, groups, community etc., can exert influence only with respect to the social and political cooperation. This fact could be seen as a weakness for a local citizen as the influential level is much below. (King, 2000) Inappropriate disbursement of revenue earned could also be considered as a weakness considering a local citizen as the stakeholder is not benefited by the revenue tapped. As per the information provided by the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation, the "Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account (ABTA) received and distributed $4.67 million from uranium mining at Ranger in 1995-96, of which only 30% - $1.4 - million was distributed to Aboriginal organisations in the Kakadu region." (Nuclear Lucre, 1997). Yet another weakness which affects a local citizen is that the Jabiluka mining activities increased the availability of alcohol. In this aspect, alcohol consumption in excess will take the control over the citizens lives. The housing conditions and educational prospects are still far away from the Kakadu region. All these factors could be seen as the weaknesses of the jabiluka project in the view of a local citizen. (Social Impacts of uranium Mining, 2001) Opportunities The Jabiluka Uranium Mine especially Jabiluka 2 has immense reserves in excess of 160,000 tonnes of uranium oxide. It remains one of the world's largest high quality uranium deposits. This potential will contribute significantly if the resource is tapped. New employment opportunities and betterment of the locals are subject to happen. Thus it could be viewed as a great opportunity from the view point of a local citizen. (UIC, 2005) The uranium from the jabiluka mine is used only for generation of nuclear power which is a great success minimizing other kinds of pollutant emissions. As per the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, 16% of the world's electricity is obtained through nuclear power stations. It saves around 2,400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted when compared to use of coal. The given chart represents the rate of worlds nuclear power generation in comparison with other modes of power generation. (Bureau of the World Heritage Committee,2005) World Electricity production rates (Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, 2005) Thus Jabiluka with its heavy potential reserve could increase the nuclear power generation and the demand for the same from other countries will also increase substantially. The Jabiluka Mine could thus create an immense economic growth too leading to the betterment of the society at large affecting positively to the local citizens. Also when compared to any other major technology, the nuclear power generation is outstanding with the excellent fuel supply using reactor operations for waste disposal etc., thus maintaining the sustainability. (Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, 2005) Other benefits from mining development of the Jabiluka are the flow of funds as royalty to the Aboriginal community. Also immense negative effects could be ruled out as there is moratorium to some mines like Ranger etc. A local citizen could have positive impacts out of this mining. At present ERA manages the areas outside the immediate mine sites and related facilities. The lease area has undergone cultural mapping and large parts of the lease are recognised under national heritage legislation, and public access is prohibited without permission of the Traditional Owners. Energy Resources Australia (ERA) works for safeguarding the interests of Traditional Owners. is prepared to work to transfer management of areas under the lease not required for mining to the Traditional Owners. (Bureau of the World Heritage Committee, 2005) Kakadu Region Social Impact Study (KRSIS) was undertaken in 1997 to facilitate the overall development of Kakadu region for (i) Housing and Infrastructure (ii) Health (iii) Employment and Training (Collins, 2000) Threats It is estimated that 20 million tones of radioactive waste are found deposited on site. This radioactive degradation alerts a threat to the human inhabitants around the area as they can cause Genetic change, disease and deformity. The ore body residues which are thrown away by the miners which are capable of radioactive emission. The waste is capable will be radioactive for over 200 000 years. This is the highly critical area of threat caused to the environment. If this part is controlled by innovating a technology to reat the waste ejected the project will turn extreme fruitful economically as well as socially. (Jabiluka uranium mine, 2003) The radioactive leaks spurts into the nearby wetlands encroaching the fragile ecosystem of the Alligator River from which the Aboriginal communities consume water. This could be seen as a significant threat from the local citizens point of view. Analysis From the detailed evaluation above of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, of the Jabiluka Mining Project from a local citizens point of view who supports the same, it could be seen that more positive points evolve under the Strengths and Opportunities section when compared to the Weaknesses and Threats. Though there are weaknesses and threats, the significant impact of positive effects under Strenghts and Opportunities surpass the same. Hence, the research statement or hypothesis could be proved true. Thus the stakeholder dialogue by a local citizen supporting the Jabiluka Mining project is justified. Conclusion The current paper is done to justify the stakeholder dialogue of a local citizen supporting the Jabiluka Uranium Mining Project. The study takes into account all factors required for analysis. The most effective tool of analysis "SWOT" is used to derive the hypothesis as true. After identifying and monitoring the listed Strengths and Opportunities with the Weaknesses and Threats, it is proved that as the stakeholder being a local citizen overcomes all the negative factors and justifies the support to the Jabiluka project. References 1. ANAWA - Jabiluka (2000), Available at: http://www.anawa.org.au/nt/jabiluka.html, Accessed 23 March 2006 2. Andrews (2003:1), Andrews - Sustainable Enterprise - New America Foundation, "Implications for International Finance and Investment", Posted 28 February 2003, Available at: http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Pub_File_1285_1.pdf, Accessed 23 March 2006 3. Andrews (2003:11), Andrews - Sustainable Enterprise - New America Foundation, "Implications for International Finance and Investment", Posted 28 February 2003, Available at: http://www.newamerica.net/Download_Docs/pdfs/Pub_File_1285_1.pdf, Accessed 24 March 2006 4. Bob Collins (2000), Kakadu Region Social Impact Study - Community Report Report on initiatives, Posted November 1998 - June 2000, Available at: www.deh.gov.au/ssd/publications/ krsis-reports/impact-study/pubs/krsis-report.pdf , Accessed 24 March 2006 5. Bureau of the World Heritage Committee (2005), 23rd Session, Paris Annex 1.1 - Statement by Senator Hill to the World Heritage Committee, July 7, 1999 Energy Resources of Australia, Monday, Posted 28-Mar-2005, Available at: http://www.energyres.com.au/kakadu/summary.shtml, Accessed 23 March 2006 6. Corporate Social Responsibility (2006), Press Release from Five Winds International Sustainable Enterprise Consulting, Posted 02/16/2006, Available at: http://www.socialfunds.com/news/release.cgi/5062.html, Accessed 24 March 2006 7. Debra King (2000), Hawke Institute Working Paper Series No. 5, Stakeholders and spin doctors: the politicization of corporate reputations, Hawke Institute, University of South Australia, Available at: http://www.unisa.edu.au/hawkeinstitute/documents/wp5.pdf, Accessed 24 March 2006 8. European Road Map for businesses (2006: 2), "Towards a Sustainable and Competitive Enterprise", Available at: www.csreurope.org/RoadMap3_pdf_media_public.aspx, Accessed 23 March 2006 9. European Road Map for businesses (2006: 5) "Towards a Sustainable and Competitive Enterprise", Available at: www.csreurope.org/RoadMap3_pdf_media_public.aspx, Accessed 24 March 2006 10. Jabiluka Uranium Mine (2003), Posted 07 Oct 2003, Available at: http://everything2.com/index.plnode_id=1497888, Accessed 24 March 2006 11. KREIOS (1997), Compiled from research prepared for Kakadu Region Economic and Institutional Overview Study - provided by the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation, & ANAWA, Nuclear Lucre, Available at: http://www.anawa.org.au/nt/jabiluka-money.html, Accessed 23 March 2006 12. Nuclear Extracts and Safeguards (2005), Available at: http://www.dfat.gov.au/security/nuclear_safeguards.html, Accessed 24 March 2006 13. Nuclear Lucre (1997), Provided by the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation), & ANAWA, Available at: http://www.anawa.org.au/nt/jabiluka-money.html, Accessed 24 March 2006 14. Social Impacts of Uranium Mining (2001), Available at: http://www.anawa.org.au/nt/jabiluka-social.html, Accessed 24 March 2006 15. Sustainable Enterprise (2006: 2), IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Barcelona, Available at: http://www.iese.edu/en/RCC/CBS/Investigacion/EmpresaSostenible/Indice.asp, Accessed 24 March 2006 16. The Problem-Jabiluka (2001), Environmental Justice Case Study: The Jabiluka Mine, Available at: http://www.umich.edu/snre492/Jabiluka.html, Accessed 23 March 2006 17. UIC (2005), Australia's Uranium Deposits and Prospective Mines, Posted August 2005, Available at: http://www.uic.com.au/pmine.htm, Accessed 23 March 2006 18. Uranium Industry - Overview (2005), Energy Resources of Australia, Posted 28-Mar-2005, Available at: http://www.energyres.com.au/uranium/, Accessed 23 March 2006 19. WRI Program (2006), World Resources Institute Program: Sustainable Enterprise Program, Program description and resources, Available at: http://programs.wri.org/programs_text.cfmpid=8, Accessed 24 March 2006 Read More