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In short:
Energy Resources Australia has launched legal proceedings over a decision to reject its application for a lease extension over the Jabiluka mine site.
The lease over the site, near Kakadu National Park, has faced strong opposition from Mirarr traditional owners since it was originally approved.
What's next?
The company is seeking an interlocutory injunction to pause the renewal decision coming into effect.
Mining company Energy Resources Australia (ERA) has launched legal action against the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments over a decision not to renew its lease over the Jabiluka uranium mine.
Surrounded by Kakadu National Park, the site at Jabiluka is one of the world's largest and richest uranium deposits.
The majority Rio Tinto-owned ERA has held a lease over the site since 1991, but has never mined or developed it.
Last month, the NT government rejected an application by ERA to extend its undeveloped uranium lease for another 10 years.
On Tuesday, ERA announced it had launched proceedings in the Federal Court against the Commonwealth, federal Resources Minister Madeleine King, the Northern Territory, NT Mining Minister Mark Monaghan and the Jabiluka Aboriginal Land Trust, seeking a judicial review of the renewal decision.
"ERA believes it had a right to have its renewal application lawfully determined and considers it was denied procedural fairness and natural justice in the decision-making process," the company said in a statement.
"ERA also considers that the decisions were subject to a number of other defects including because they were unreasonable."
The Jabiluka lease is due to end on August 11, with the federal government having already flagged it would move to formally absorb the site into Kakadu.
ERA said it was seeking an interlocutory injunction "on an urgent basis" to pause the renewal decision coming into effect.
An independent board committee, made up of independent directors Rick Dennis, Ken Wyatt and Stuart Glenn, will act for ERA in the matter.
Mirarr traditional owners have for decades objected to the potential mining of Jabiluka, located 275 kilometres east of Darwin.
The lease was originally granted in the 1980s, leading to waves of protests led by traditional owners.
During that time, ERA operated the nearby Ranger uranium mine from 1981 to 2021 — a decision that triggered protests in major southern cities.
The company is now rehabilitating the Ranger mine at a cost of over $2.4 billion.
ERA initially had approval to mine Jabiluka, but chose to stop the mine's development after facing significant opposition from Mirarr traditional owners.