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Department   of Trade and   Resources

Media  Release . ((

RANGER URANIUM PROJECT

(Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade  and Resources, the Rt Hon. J.D. Anthony, M.P. )

I welcome the news that the Electrolytic Zinc Company  of Australasia Limited has decided to join with Peko-Wallsend  Limited in the new company Energy Resources of Australia (ERA)

in taking up the Government’s interests in the Ranger uranium  project.  .

As I announced on 18 December 1979, the Government CP

o had decided that it would divest, of its interests in the Ranger  project and that it wished to accept the offer submitted by

Peko-Wallsend Limited to acquire those interests through ERA,

which, was also to acquire Peko's interests in the Ranger  project.

The decision by EZ means that ERA will now acquire

100% of the Ranger uranium project. '

I am pleased that the two original partners of the

project will be working together in the development of this .

important resource. .

Canberra  23 January 1980

