TABJ - June 15 - Energy Resources Australia (ERA) has restarted processing operations at its Ranger uranium mine in Australia's Northern Territory, signalling the end of a suspension on plant processing operations at the facility.

The plant’s operations were halted in January as a precautionary measure to ensure levels in its tailings storage facility remained below the maximum limit throughout the wet seasons.

A statement by ERA read: “From June 15, 2011, ERA will commence a progressive restart of processing operations at the Ranger mine.

Operations at Ranger were originally suspended for 12-week by ERA who extended the suspension in April to allow total process water inventory at the plant to reduce.

“Since late April 2011, typical dry season weather conditions have been experienced. These weather conditions have reduced the total process water inventory at the Ranger mine to a level that allows ERA to re-commence processing plant operations,” ERA stated.

ERA has revised its 2011 first half loss guidance to between A$20 million and A$30 million from the guidance of between $30 million to $50 million previously communicated earlier in the year.

It is expected to take close to four weeks for the plant to return to normal production levels.