Our department’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
See Australia.gov.au for whole of Australian Government COVID-19 advice.
- Policies and initiatives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
- Freedom of information
- Gifts and benefits register
- Grants reporting
- Information Publication Scheme
- Our contracts
- Privacy impact assessments
- Public interest disclosure
- Senate Order 15: portfolio appointments and vacancies
Our online presence
Contact
- Publications
- News
- Policies and initiatives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
- Freedom of information
- Gifts and benefits register
- Grants reporting
- Information Publication Scheme
- Our contracts
- Privacy impact assessments
- Public interest disclosure
- Senate Order 15: portfolio appointments and vacancies
Our online presence
Contact
- Publications
- News
- Home
- Regulations and standards
- Resources
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
On this page
Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
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.
Which materials are subject to export controls?
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
Which countries can receive UOC?
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).
Applying to export 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).
Submitting an application to export UOC
Please send your hardcopy application to: Senator the Hon Keith Pitt, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, 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, Water and Northern Australia
- advise us of any changes to mining proposals
Applying 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)
Complete the application form
Application to Export Controlled Ores [158KB DOCX]
Provide an end-user statement
We require a statement from the intended end-user(s) of the material. We encourage you to use the end-user template [60KB DOCX].
An end-use statement must include details on:
- ownership and operations of the end-user
- how the end-user will use and dispose of the Australian material (including advice on whether there will be any re-exports)
- how the nuclear material (thorium and uranium) will be used and disposed of, including possible:
- final disposal as irrecoverable waste
- storage as recoverable waste
- extraction of the nuclear material for any nuclear purpose
- re-export in any form
- ownership and location of the waste containing nuclear material
- government controls and arrangements for storage or disposal of nuclear material content
All intended traders of the material (not just the manufacturer or processor) must provide an end-user statement.
Exports to China
If you are exporting a controlled ore to China (directly or indirectly), additional information is required. To satisfy Australia’s reporting obligations in Annex D of the Australia-China Nuclear Transfer Agreement, please include:
- receiver name
- address and contact details of the senior representative (including all import agents and end-users)
- intermediate processor in a third country (if applicable)
- projected monthly delivery schedule
Submitting applications to export controlled ores, residues and concentrates, and other nuclear materials
Please email a scanned copy of your application to: Manager, Resources Stewardship & Environment Section, Resources Division at Uranium.IndustrySection@industry.gov.au
Assessment process
Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Permissions to export controlled materials are granted by the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia or an authorised person in the department.
We treat all information, including our initial discussion with you, as commercial-in-confidence.
Contact us
Last updated: 5 February 2021
Content ID: 42901