While Compass have publicised their plans for the Browns Oxide project to seamlessly flow into a major Sulphide mine, they have been less candid with the general public about the potential for mining uranium on their tenements around Rum Jungle.

However communications with shareholders are more forthcoming.

Last year, Compass announced uranium exploration data around Batchelor, reporting ‘the excellent uranium potential of the region, with the identification of a number of high potential prospects’.

The Compass Resources Board noted in their September 2005 quarterly report that ‘the SX plant and tankage purchased would be equally suitable for future uranium processing’ leading Martin Place Securities to conclude : ‘CMR aims to fast track a 4 Mlbs pa low cost uranium operation using common infrastructure from the proposed Browns oxide project.’

All indications are that the current Browns Oxide proposal is merely a stepping stone in the company’s ambitions towards uranium mining. So far, the company has identified eight ‘highly encouraging’ uranium prospects in the Batchelor region.

But perhaps the best argument against these plans is to be found in the same place. The environmental travesty that was Rum Jungle Uranium Mine must now be rehabilitated, and can never be allowed to be repeated.