Under Regulation 9 of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958, you must have permission to export:
- uranium oxide concentrate or uranium ore concentrate (UOC)
- controlled ores and other nuclear material.
All uranium produced in Australia is exported for use in nuclear energy generation or research reactors. It can only be used for peaceful purposes in countries Australia has approved.
Our export controls reflect Australia’s stringent nuclear safety and security requirements, including Australia’s non-proliferation obligations.
Controlled material
Controlled materials include:
- uranium (including UOC)
- depleted uranium (DU) transport containers
- other materials such as laboratory reagents containing 500 parts per million (ppm) (0.05% per cent by weight) or more of uranium and thorium combined
- other nuclear materials including plutonium, americium, curium, and californium
- controlled ores or concentrates containing 500 ppm or more of uranium and thorium combined, including:
- monazite
- tantalum concentrates
- tantalum glass
- zircon.
Participating countries
Australian UOC can only be exported to countries that have a nuclear cooperation agreement with Australia. Countries must also have a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Submitting an application to export uranium oxide concentrate or uranium ore concentrate (UOC)
There is no standard application form for this process. Before you begin, please contact us to discuss the nature of your proposal. This will avoid processing delays and help you to meet the application requirements. For example, you’ll need to provide:
- background on the exporting company
- benefits arising from current and future operations
- benefits arising from the export opportunity
- project details on the UOC source (e.g. a copy of the mining lease or other evidence)
- information on the status of Commonwealth and state approval processes, including environmental safeguards
- a list of compliant countries you propose to export to
- justification for how long you require the permission (usually 10 years).
You must also have a permit to possess or transport nuclear material from the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO).
Please send your hardcopy application to: Minister for Resources, PO BOX 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.
If you are issued with an export permission, you must:
- obtain approval from us for each shipment of UOC
- adhere to strict safeguards, reporting and other conditions determined by the Minister for Resources
- advise us of any changes to mining proposals.
Apply to export controlled ores, residues and concentrates, and other nuclear materials
Applications for Controlled Ores and Other Nuclear Materials are managed in the Export Permissions Portal (EPP).
If you haven’t applied for mineral export permission before, please email us to request access to the EPP. Include your full name and company.
Your application must include all of the following:
- a brief background on the exporting company and the export opportunity
- a description, including the source, of the material
- a chemical data sheet (or similar)
- gross weight of the material
- uranium and thorium content, or content of other nuclear material
- proposed export quantity
- export arrangements (expected dates and whether it is likely to be a one-off or longer term arrangement)
- commercial benefits from the proposed export (approximate export value).