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Era Group Inc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Era Group Inc
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ANNUAL
REPORT
2018

SALES REVENUE ($M)

DRUMMED PRODUCTION TONNES (T)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

379.2

332.8

267.8

211.2

201.0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

1,165

2,005

2,351

2,294

1,999

NET PROFIT AFTER TAX ($M)

INDIGENOUS EMPLOYEES (FTEs)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

-435.3

-187.8

-275.5

-271.1

-43.5

OPERATING CASHFLOW ($M)

-54.0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

-76.3

84.6

34.0

7.8

47

49

46

43

44

ALL INJURY FREQUENCY RATE
(PER 200,000 HRS WORKED)

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

1.27

1.17

0.67

0.56

2016 0.19

2017

2018

Cover photo of the Ranger Trial Landform taken in January 2019 using ERA’s drone.

With thanks to Scott Mason, David Coles and Sue Smiley from the Infrastructure team.

ii

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
CONTENTs

1
2018 ANNUAL REPORT

19
FINANCIAL REPORT

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT 

COMPANY OVERVIEW 

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE 

OPERATIONS AND REHABILITATION 

BUSINESS STRATEGY 

BUSINESS RISKS 

FUTURE SUPPLY 

SALES AND MARKETING 

HEALTH AND SAFETY 

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 

2

3

4

5

6

9

10

12

15

16

18

DIRECTOR’S REPORT 

20

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION 

43

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

44

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

50

BALANCE SHEET 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

CASH FLOW STATEMENT 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

DIRECTOR’S DECLARATION 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 

2018 ASX ANNOUNCEMENTS 

TEN YEAR PERFORMANCE 

INDEX 

51

52

53

54

86

87

93

95

96

97

1

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD From a social perspective, the town of Jabiru owes its 
existence to ERA. In today’s money, ERA spent $230 million 
on the establishment of the town to support the mine and 
the local community. The commercial properties, houses, 
public pool, lake and sporting facilities are, and will continue 
to be, extensively used. Educational, health and policing 
facilities are provided. These would not otherwise be locally 
available. Jabiru is powered by the Ranger Mine. The 
airport, (constructed and operated by ERA), is used by 
emergency services, commercial ventures and local charter 
operations – all at no cost.

The Ranger Mine has not only spawned a community, but 
has also been a fundamental enabler in the development 
of  a tourism industry underpinned by the World Heritage 
Kakadu National Park. Jabiru is the gateway into the Park 
and will remain so many years after the Ranger Mine has 
been rehabilitated. The importance of  this town has been 
recognised by the Federal and Territory Governments, 
both of  which have committed significant funding to the 
development of  Jabiru, the local tourism hub. 

In any balanced debate, the broad contribution that 
mining in general, and ERA in particular, has made to 
Australian life needs to be acknowledged. ERA has taken, 
and continues to take, its environmental, economic and 
social responsibilities very seriously. I believe it has truly 
earned its social licence to operate in the future. 

Lastly, on behalf  of  the Board, I would like to thank the 
management team and staff  at ERA for their commitment 
and  hard work this year.

PETER MANsELL

CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN's REPORT

It has been some years 
since your Company 
has mined the Ranger 
ore body, and it is now 
well advanced in its 
rehabilitation program. 
I believe this is an 
appropriate time to reflect 
on the benefits that have 
been derived by many 
over the last four decades 
because of its existence. 

The Ranger Uranium Mine will leave a significant legacy, 
which will, hopefully, live on through other projects.

This reflection is particularly timely in the light of  the 
current heightened opposition to the extractive industry. 
The debate on the advantages and disadvantages of  this 
industry is a worthy one, but it does need balance. I have 
highlighted below some of  the benefits that have resulted 
from ERA’s operations, but it is fair to say that the ERA story 
is not an uncommon one in the mining industry in general.

On the environmental front, ERA started mining on 
pristine bare land in 1980, and, in 2026, it will have 
returned that same land to a condition in keeping with the 
surrounding natural habitat. All mining equipment and 
buildings on the mine site will have been demolished and 
the pits backfilled. The rehabilitation works will see more 
than a million seedlings planted over the Ranger Project 
Area. In short, the disturbed land will be returned to a 
viable ecosystem, meeting the expectations of  all ERA’s 
stakeholders, and, most importantly, those of  the Mirarr.

While planning for closure and rehabilitation of  the Ranger 
Mine is now our main focus, ERA has had a long history 
as a reliable supplier of  fuel to nuclear power stations, 
connecting millions of  homes with clean electricity.

But it goes well beyond that. There is also a legacy of   
far reaching other economic benefits in Australia. Over 
37 years of  production, the Ranger Mine has contributed 
more than half  a billion dollars in royalties to Aboriginal 
interests and to Governments; more than one billion dollars 
in dividends; and more than one billion dollars in tax.

Significant other economic and social benefits have 
been ERA’s contribution to training and employment. 
Onsite training programs have been of  a high standard 
and ongoing. Over the years we have employed many 
thousands of  people. The multiplier effect of  that training 
and employment is obvious.

2

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD CHIEF EXECUTIVE's REPORT

On behalf  of  the 
dedicated team  
at ERA, I am very 
pleased to report 
on the Company’s 
achievements in 2018.

ERA’s first priority  
is to care for people and 
the environment. Our 
focus is each other’s 
wellbeing, health and 
personal safety reflecting 

a continued commitment to the goal of  zero harm. 

It is most pleasing that the number of  injuries in 2018 
halved from what we recorded in 2017. The conscious 
effort and commitment from all levels whether frontline, 
supervisors, managers or leadership is to be commended.

Furthermore, we continued to improve how we ensure 
critical controls to eliminate fatality exposures and 
process safety incidents are in place, effective and 
verified. Our performance in process safety management 
is subject to independent oversight and is highly 
regarded within the Rio Tinto Group. 

We continued to process from existing stockpiles of  low 
grade ore producing 1,999 tonnes of  uranium oxide in 
2018. Our processing plant’s performance has been 
outstanding when considering the age of  the asset, with 
daily throughput capacity records set in the second half  
of  2018. 

The progressive rehabilitation of  Ranger Mine continues 
with our treatment of  process water exceeding target, with 
the Brine Concentrator achieving (and exceeding) annual 
nameplate capacity for the first time, a testament to the 
relentless focus of  our operating and technical teams. 

The feasibility study on the rehabilitation strategy was 
progressed in 2018, further increasing confidence 
that ERA’s planned rehabilitation strategy will satisfy 
regulatory obligations, including the January 2026 
milestone. Following the study, our rehabilitation  
program will require significant additional funding  
which is beyond our current resources. We are continuing 
to assess all options, including active discussions with  
Rio Tinto regarding a funding solution.

In 2018, ERA launched a business transformation program 
to increase cash flow while maintaining the Company’s 
priority to care for people and country. The “Transforming 
ERA Together” program seeks cash savings and 
productivity improvements and I am pleased to report  
that by the end of the year we have implemented programs 
set to deliver savings and productivity gains through 2020.

We want everyone to contribute to their full potential and 
in 2018 we progressed our “My Future Plan” program 
giving employees opportunities to expand their skills and 
capabilities as we plan for the closure of  Ranger. Our 
sustained focus on indigenous participation maintained 
our indigenous workforce at 13 per cent. 

Throughout 2018, we continued to engage with the 
Mirarr Traditional Owners and our other key stakeholders. 
In May, I formally presented the Mirarr Traditional 
Owners with the first public copy of  the Ranger Mine 
Closure Plan. The Plan is the direct result of  ongoing 
consultation and collaboration with the Mirarr and our 
other key stakeholders. We thank them for their ongoing 
engagement with us. 

The Mine Closure Plan, now available on the Company’s 
website, details the final rehabilitation and closure 
outcomes needed between now and 2026 for ERA to 
meet its legal obligations and ensure the Ranger Project 
Area’s final condition is consistent with the values of  the 
surrounding World Heritage Kakadu National Park. 

We acknowledge the leadership and efforts of  the 
Mirarr Traditional Owners, together with the support of  
Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments, in 
producing a Masterplan for Jabiru and securing its future. 

Paul Arnold presenting Yvonne Margarula with the first copy of 
the Ranger Mine Closure Plan – Image courtesy of Gundjeihmi 
Aboriginal Corporation

Finally, I wish to again acknowledge our hard working ERA 
team for their dedication and commitment to Ranger and 
ERA throughout 2018. We will continue to deliver to this 
standard in 2019 and I look forward to the year ahead.

PAUL ARNOLD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MANAGING DIRECTOR

3

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD COMPANy OVERVIEw

Energy Resources of  Australia Ltd (ERA) acknowledges 
the Mirarr people, Traditional Owners of  the land on 
which ERA operates.

and Maintenance Agreement, the Jabiluka deposit will 
not be developed by ERA without the approval of  the 
Mirarr Traditional Owners. 

ERA operates the Ranger uranium mine, Australia’s 
longest continually operating uranium mine.

ERA has provided international customers with reliable 
supply of  uranium oxide (U3O8) in the 37 years since 
production at Ranger began. During that time, Ranger 
has produced in excess of  128,000 tonnes of  uranium. 

The Ranger mine’s operational infrastructure lies within 
the 79 square kilometre Ranger Project Area, which is 
located eight kilometres east of  Jabiru and 260 kilometres 
east of  Darwin, in the Northern Territory of  Australia. ERA’s 
operations on the Ranger Project Area are undertaken 
pursuant to an authorisation granted under section 41 of  
the Atomic Energy Act 1953 (Cth) (the Ranger Authority).

ERA is currently processing stockpiled ore following the 
completion of  open cut mining in 2012.

The Ranger 3 Deeps ore body contains a Mineral 
Resource of  43,858 tonnes of  contained uranium 
oxide, comprised of  19.58 million tonnes at an overall 
grade of  0.244% U3O8. Following a decision in 2015 
not to progress the Ranger 3 Deeps project to full 
feasibility study, the exploration decline and associated 
infrastructure remain under care and maintenance. In 
order to fully develop the Ranger 3 Deeps resource,  
ERA would require an extension to the Ranger Authority 
which expires in January 2021.

ERA also holds title to the world-class Jabiluka Mineral 
Lease. In accordance with the Jabiluka Long Term Care 

The Ranger Project Area and the Jabiluka Mineral Lease 
are located on Aboriginal land and are surrounded by, 
but separate from, the World Heritage-listed Kakadu 
National Park. 

In addition to the Ranger Authority, ERA’s uranium mining 
activities are regulated through Commonwealth and 
Northern Territory legislation. ERA has also entered into 
a suite of  agreements which govern its operations on 
the Ranger Project Area with the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal 
Corporation, on behalf  of  the Mirarr Traditional Owners, 
the Northern Land Council and the Commonwealth 
Government.

ERA has a sales and marketing agreement with Rio Tinto 
Uranium pursuant to which ERA’s product is sold to 
international power utilities under strict international and 
Australian Government safeguards which ensure that 
Australian uranium is only used for peaceful purposes. 

ERA is committed to strong environmental management 
practices. The previously exhausted open cut mines 
at Ranger, as well as the Jabiluka site, are being 
progressively rehabilitated in line with regulatory 
requirements. 

The Company’s shares are publicly held and traded  
on the Australian Securities Exchange, with Rio Tinto,  
a diversified resources group, currently holding  
68.4 per cent of  ERA shares. 

4

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

In 2018, ERA generated negative cash flow from 
operating activities of  $76 million compared to positive 
$8 million in 2017. This was largely due to an increased 
rehabilitation spend on the Ranger Project Area and 
lower sales receipts compared to the prior period. 
Despite negative cash flow, ERA continued to generate 
a positive margin from the sale of  uranium oxide, with 
production inventories being built for sales  
in future periods.

ERA held total cash resources of  $388 million at  
31 December 2018, comprised of  $313 million in  
cash at bank and $75 million of  cash held by the 
Commonwealth Government as part of  the Ranger 
Rehabilitation Trust Fund. The Company has no debt.

ERA recorded a net loss after tax of  $435 million 
compared to a net loss after tax of $44 million in 2017. 
This loss was principally driven by two non-cash charges 
during the period. The first was a $343 million non-cash 
charge recorded in December 2018 for an increase to the 
rehabilitation provision following the Ranger Project Area 
closure feasibility study (Feasibility Study). The second,  
an impairment charge at 30 June 2018 of  $90 million  
(after tax) to the Jabiluka Undeveloped Property,  
resulted from a material decline in long-term forecast 
consensus uranium price and an increase in the  
asset-specific discount rate reflecting recent uranium 
equity market volatility. These charges have contributed 
to a net deficiency in shareholder equity of  more than 
$280,790,000 as at 31 December, 2018.

The Ranger Project Area continued to be progressively 
rehabilitated during 2018, with expenditure of  $59 million 
incurred. In line with the Ranger Mine Closure Plan, 
expenditure was primarily associated with the dredge 
operating to transfer tailings from the Tailings Storage 
Facility to Pit 3, the backfill of  waste material to Pit 1,  
the Feasibility Study and other studies.

REVENUE

Revenue from the sale of uranium oxide was $201 million 
(2017: $211 million). Revenue was impacted by a decrease 
in sales volume and an unfavourable movement in the 
Australian/US dollar exchange rate. This was partially offset 
by a higher average realised sales price.

Sales volume was 1,467 tonnes for 2018, compared 
with 2,089 tonnes for 2017. The average realised sales 
price that ERA received for uranium oxide in 2018 was 
US$47.67 per pound compared to US$34.75 per pound 
in 2017. The increase to the average realised sales 

price is a result of  the structure of  the ongoing contract 
portfolio and no spot sales occurring in the current 
period. This compares favourably against the average 
spot price for 2018 of  US$24.59 per pound.

ERA completed approximately 80 per cent of  its 
contracted sales in the first half  of  the year as a result of  
timings within the contract portfolio. In the second half  of  
the year, ERA built inventory of  uranium oxide for sales in 
future periods. ERA did not sell any uranium oxide on the 
spot market in 2018.

With uranium oxide sales denominated in US dollars, 
the strengthening of  the Australian dollar had a negative 
impact on ERA’s financial results. With sales weighted 
towards the first half, the average exchange rate was  
0.77 US cents, compared with 0.76 US cents for 2017.

OPERATING COsTs

In 2018, ERA initiated a company-wide business 
transformation program “Transforming ERA Together” 
to increase cashflow while maintaining the Company’s 
core values of  health, safety and environment. Following 
an initial period to identify and assess potential cash 
generation opportunities, a series of  initiatives to 
reduce costs and generate additional value have been 
implemented across the Company’s operations. To date, 
the transformation program has resulted in cost savings, 
lower input costs and increased productivity. Further 
savings are expected to be realised in 2019 as the 
identified initiatives are progressed. 

Cash costs for 2018 were slightly higher than the 
corresponding period in 2017. This was driven by higher 
consumable prices and consultancy costs.

No depreciation has been recorded in 2018 due to ERA 
fully impairing the Ranger Cash Generating Unit in 2016.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Capital expenditure for the year was $4 million compared 
to $7 million in 2017. All expenditure in 2018 related to 
sustaining capital activities. In 2018, capital expenditure was 
immediately written off to the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income and recorded in other expenses. This is a result of  
the Ranger Cash Generating Unit being fully impaired.

5

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD OPERATIONs AND REHABILITATION

The Plan builds on more than 20 years of  scientific work 
undertaken on world-class progressive rehabilitation 
at Ranger, and was developed in accordance with Rio 
Tinto’s internal requirements for mine closure and by 
reference to the Western Australian Mine Closure Plan 
Guidelines (in the absence of  relevant Northern Territory 
closure plan guidelines). It also includes proposed 
closure criteria for the Ranger mine which addresses the 
key themes of  the final landform, radiation, water, flora 
and fauna, soils and cultural heritage.

ERA released the Plan to the public in June 2018 
following an intensive stakeholder engagement 
process with all key stakeholders which commenced 
on the provision a draft Plan in December 2016. Key 
stakeholders who provided feedback on the draft 
included the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (as 
representatives of  the Mirarr Traditional Owners), 
Northern Land Council and Northern Territory and 
Commonwealth Government agencies. 

In July 2018, ERA formally submitted the Plan to the 
relevant Northern Territory and Commonwealth Ministers 
for approval in compliance with the Environmental 
Requirements. Following a further period of  review, the 
Plan was approved by both Ministers in December 2018.

The Plan is subject to ongoing review and refinement, 
with ERA required to review and submit an updated  
Plan for approval each year. The plan will be updated 
in 2019 to reflect the findings of  the recently completed 
Feasibility Study.

In 2018, ERA produced 1,999 tonnes of  uranium oxide, 
which was at the top end of  the market guidance of  
1,600 to 2,000 tonnes. This compares with 2,294 tonnes 
of  uranium oxide produced in 2017. Production was 
impacted by completion of  the laterite ore processing 
early in the June 2018 quarter and the impact of  
declining ore grades from existing stockpiles.

Processing continued from primary ore stockpiles, while 
additional uranium oxide was also produced through 
brines to leach production. This saw recovery of  uranium 
from recycled brine which was returned to the leaching 
circuit for further extraction.

Despite the declining head grade, the plant achieved its 
production milestones for the year. The processing of  
laterite ore ended in April, leading to an increased focus 
on the optimisation of  the mine plan and utilisation of  the 
mill. Following the scheduled maintenance shutdown of  
the plant in May, the mill reached historical combined 
mill rates and throughput records in September. Plant 
throughput for the year was 2.49 million tonnes of  
uranium ore and the peak mill rate was 382 tonnes  
per hour. The average recovery rate for the year was  
86.6 per cent and average ore head grade was  
0.09 per cent uranium oxide.

ERA completed the embedding of  its Process Safety 
Management Plan. The Noetic Group conducted 
three oversight visits throughout the year to further 
review improvements to process safety management 
and is scheduled to complete its final oversight visit 
in early 2019. In 2019, an internal ERA team will 
maintain oversight of  Process Safety at Ranger while 
an independent consultant will be retained to provide 
information and advice. 

RANGER MINE CLOsURE PLAN

Under the Ranger Authority, ERA is required to cease 
mining and processing activities in the Ranger Project 
Area by January 2021, with final rehabilitation to be 
completed by January 2026. The Ranger Closure Plan 
(the Plan) details the works program and schedule 
to achieve the closure objectives set out in the 
legal framework and the associated Environmental 
Requirements. 

6

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD OPERATIONs AND REHABILITATION

FEAsIBILIT y sTUDy

In 2017, ERA commenced the Ranger Project Area 
closure Feasibility Study to further refine the schedule, 
rehabilitation activities and execution of  the Plan. Work  
on the Feasibility Study continued during 2018. The 
approval and implementation of  the Feasibility Study 
results in an increase in the rehabilitation provision  
from $526 million at 31 December 2017 to $830 million  
at 31 December 2018 (previously estimated to be  
$808 million in the Company’s 6 December 2018 
announcement based on the preliminary findings of  
the study). This has been recorded in the 2018 full year 
financial statements. 

The increase of  $305 million1 compared to 31 December 
2017 is largely due to: 

•  costs associated with tailings transfer to Pit 3, 

additional water treatment and related infrastructure, 
and revegetation requirements; 

•  higher forecast costs relating to site services and 

owners’ costs; and 

•  an increase in contingency. 

The findings of  the Feasibility Study further increase 
confidence to stakeholders that ERA’s planned 
rehabilitation strategy will satisfy regulatory obligations, 
including the January 2026 milestone. 

As a result of  the rehabilitation provision increase, ERA 
is continuing to review all funding options. Rio Tinto 
has advised ERA it will work with ERA and its other 
shareholders and stakeholders with the objective of  
ensuring that ERA is in a position to meet in full the likely 
future rehabilitation requirements of  the Ranger Project 
Area. ERA and Rio Tinto are continuing to engage in 
active discussions regarding a funding solution. 

PROGREssIVE REHABILITATION

Disturbed land on the Ranger Project Area continued 
to undergo progressive rehabilitation throughout the 
year alongside operational activities. ERA’s progressive 
rehabilitation activities are based on extensive research, 
studies and consultation with stakeholders with the main 
activities focus on Pit 3, Pit 1, the Tailings Storage Facility 
and the Brine Concentrator. 

The primary objective is to rehabilitate the Ranger Project 
Area to form one final landform across the site which  
will blend in with the surrounding landscape. The long 
term goal is to establish a fully functioning landform  
and ecosystem that is similar to the surrounding  
Kakadu National Park.

The area of  disturbance around the mine footprint 
measures approximately 950 hectares where most of   
the rehabilitation work will occur.

A number of  key tasks form the basis of  the closure 
strategy, including:

•  treatment of  all pond and process water inventories; 

•  remediation of  the Tailings Storage Facility and 

contaminated sites;

•  transfer of  tailings from the Tailings Storage Facility to 

the exhausted Pits 1 and 3;

•  re-shaping of  the stockpiles and disturbed areas of  the 
Ranger Project Area to establish a final landform; and

•  revegetation of  the final landform using locally sourced 

native seeds.

As part of  ERA’s progressive rehabilitation strategy many 
of  these closure activities are well underway.

The transfer of  tailings to Pit 1 was completed in late 2008 
and the pit is now entering its final stages of  backfilling 
with waste rock in preparation for final landform 
construction in 2020. In addition, tailings continue to be 
dredged from the Tailings Storage Facility and transferred 
to Pit 3, while process water from the Tailings Storage 
Facility is being treated by the Brine Concentrator prior  
to release into constructed wetlands and then offsite.

ERA’s approach to revegetation is informed by the  
long-running trial landform research, which began in 
2009 to provide for testing of  landform design and 
revegetation strategies. The trial landform used locally 
sourced native plant species planted out as tube 
stock into the type of  waste rock to be used in the final 
landform process. In 2018, seeds from native plants in 
Kakadu National Park were collected under permit by 
Kakadu Native Plants which is in partnership with ERA  
on the revegetation project. Late in 2018, ERA received 
approval to harvest the seeds for commercial purposes.

1. Differences may occur due to rounding

7

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD OPERATIONs AND REHABILITATION

Cone penetration testing took place through the year to 
test the consolidation of  the tailings in Pit 3. 

Excess process water from Pit 3 is pumped back to 
the Tailings Storage Facility, and directed to the Brine 
Concentrator for treatment. The concentrated brine waste 
stream from the Brine Concentrator, currently being 
directed to the Tailings Storage Facility, and to the leach 
tanks (brines to leach), will eventually be injected into  
Pit 3 for final deposition. The treated water from the  
Brine Concentrator is released into constructed wetlands 
prior to release off  site.

In similar fashion to Pit 1, wicks will eventually be installed 
into the tailings mass within Pit 3 and then covered with a 
geotextile fabric membrane, prior to initial preload. Bulk 
backfilling is expected to commence in 2023, followed  
by final landform contouring and revegetation.

REVEGETATION

During 2018, stage one of  the project to convert the 
former drilling core yard on the Ranger Project Area to 
a revegetation nursery commenced. The nursery has 
capacity for 250,000 seedlings, and its capacity will have 
doubled when stage two of  the project is completed in 
2025. Local Indigenous business Kakadu Native Plants 
Pty Ltd has been engaged by ERA to collect local 
native plant seeds under licence and to raise tubestock 
seedlings suitable for planting into the final landform.

The final landform represents landscape gardening on an 
industrial scale, using waste rock shaped and contoured 
to blend with the undulations and terrain characteristics 
of  the surrounding natural woodland.

In 2018, ERA collaborated with Charles Darwin University 
to investigate methods of  establishing understorey such 
as grasses, shrubs and ground covers on the waste rock 
trial landform. Several species successfully established, 
flowered and seeded. One species recruited second 
generation seedlings on the trial landform. These results 
will enable ERA to develop appropriate strategies to 
establish understorey on the final landform.

A key feature of  ERA’s closure strategy is the 
management of  tailings and brine which incorporates 
the rehabilitation of  Pits 1 and 3 and the Tailings 
Storage Facility. These activities continued to progress 
during 2018. The dredge experienced some technical 
challenges which saw 3.462 million cubic metres of  
tailings transferred from the Tailings Storage Facility to 
Pit 3. In October, the Company approved infrastructure 
expenditure of  $32 million to expand tailings transfer 
capacity (including the addition of  a second dredge) 
in order to complete rehabilitation activities within the 
regulatory timeframe.

BRINE CONCENTRATOR

The Brine Concentrator treats process water to produce 
a distillate (clean water) and a brine (concentrated waste 
stream). Distillate is discharged to the environment during 
the wet season.

Originally commissioned in 2013, the Brine Concentrator 
has undergone upgrades to ensure continuous 
improvement in performance and to overcome various 
technical challenges. 

In 2018, the Brine Concentrator achieved consistent 
nameplate capacity producing on average 6.5 megalitres 
per day of distillate. During the year, the Brine Concentrator 
produced 1,992 megalitres of distillate.

REHABILITATION OF PIT 1

Material movement to backfill Pit 1 progressed during 
2018, with 1.82 million tonnes of  waste rock placed over 
the laterite cap during the year. The backfilling operation 
is scheduled for completion in 2020, before land forming 
and revegetation activities commence. 

The 39.3 hectare site has stored mill tailings in the pit 
as required by the Ranger Authority. Approximately 
7,700 dewatering wicks were installed in 2012, along 
with a geotextile fabric layer and a pre-load rock layer to 
compress the tailings mass. The pre-load rock layer was 
capped with an impervious layer of  laterite in 2016 to 
prevent surface water infiltration.

REHABILITATION OF PIT 3 

Tailings waste from ongoing milling activities continued to 
be pumped via a pipeline into Pit 3. For some of  the year, 
tailings from the Tailings Storage Facility were deposited 
into Pit 3 via the subaerial pipeline before the transfer 
method was transitioned to subaqueous deposition.

8

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD BUsINEss sTRATEGy

ERA provides clean energy to the world and, as a trusted 
partner, cares for people and country.

ERA holds two undeveloped uranium resources of  
international significance at Ranger 3 Deeps and Jabiluka.

Subject to market conditions, and in the absence of  
further mine development, the mine plan which supports 
the Ore Reserves Statement assumes that stockpiled ore 
can continue to be economically produced at Ranger 
until January 2021.

In addition, ERA has stockpiled Ore Reserves at Ranger 
that, in the absence of  development of  other resources, 
are potentially sufficient to sustain operations until 
January 2021.

ERA’s key priority is to address the funding shortfall 
resulting from the increase in the rehabilitation provision.

ERA’s near-term strategic priorities are:

•  continue the progressive rehabilitation of  the Ranger 
Project Area and provide assurance to stakeholders 
that rehabilitation can be fully funded;

•  maximise the generation of  cash flow from the 

processing of  stockpiled ore, which can be potentially 
sustained until the current Ranger Authority expires in 
January 2021; and

•  preserve optionality over the Company’s undeveloped 

resources, periodically assessing care and 
maintenance strategies for the Ranger 3 Deeps 
exploration decline and related infrastructure.

RANGER 3 DEEPs

The Ranger 3 Deeps project remains on care and 
maintenance. Given the current uranium market 
environment, ERA plans for a reduced care and 
maintenance program for the exploration decline to 
be implemented in 2019 on receipt of  final regulatory 
approval.

The project involved construction of  an exploration 
decline and an associated underground exploration 
drilling program. 

The Ranger 3 Deeps Mineral Resource remains 
unchanged for 2018 at 19.58 million tonnes at an overall 
grade of  0.224% U3O8, representing 43,858 tonnes of  
contained uranium oxide.

JABILUKA

ERA has entered into a Long Term Care and Maintenance 
Agreement in relation to the Jabiluka Mineral Lease.

CURRENT OPERATIONs

Current operations rely on the processing of existing 
uranium ore stockpiles following the cessation of open  
pit mining in Pit 3.

Jabiluka is a large, high quality uranium orebody of  
global significance and remains one of  ERA’s key assets. 
Future mining developments at Jabiluka will not occur 
without the consent of  the Mirarr Traditional Owners.

The Company’s estimate of  Ore Reserves for the Ranger 
stockpiles at 31 December 2018 was 3,735 tonnes of  
contained uranium oxide.

The Company is transforming its business and has 
initiatives in place to reduce costs and improve 
productivity to offset the adverse impact of  declining  
ore grades over time.

9

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD mechanism ultimately provides Rio Tinto with a right 
to terminate the credit facility agreement if  the parties 
cannot agree a satisfactory path forward following such an 
increase in the estimated rehabilitation cost.

Each year, the Company is required to prepare and 
submit to the Commonwealth Government an Annual Plan 
of  Rehabilitation. Once accepted by the Commonwealth 
Government, the Annual Plan is then independently 
assessed and costed and the amount to be provided by 
the Company into the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund 
(Trust Fund) is then determined. The Trust Fund includes 
both cash and financial guarantees.

The Company’s ability to continue to access financial 
guarantees can be influenced by many factors 
including potential future cash balance, cash flows and 
shareholder support. Should one or more of  the financial 
guarantees be withdrawn at any time and the Company 
is unable to access replacement guarantees, substantial 
additional cash would be required to be deposited into 
the Trust Fund. This may impact available liquidity for 
ongoing operations. The Company is developing plans to 
address these risks, including through a funding solution 
under discussion with Rio Tinto. 

REGULATORs AND sTAKEHOLDER s

The Ranger Mine Closure Plan is subject to ongoing 
review and refinement, with ERA required to review and 
submit an updated Plan for regulatory approval each 
year. In addition, regulatory approvals are required in 
order to carry out certain rehabilitation activities. If  these 
regulatory approvals are not obtained or are obtained 
on unsatisfactory conditions, ERA’s ability to complete 
the rehabilitation program in a timely and cost effective 
manner will be at risk.

Regulatory approvals would also be required to 
commence any production from the Ranger 3 Deeps 
mine or on any other parts of  the Ranger Project Area 
and the Jabiluka Mineral Lease. Similarly, if  these 
regulatory approvals are not obtained or are obtained on 
unsatisfactory conditions, ERA will not be able to proceed 
with those developments. 

BUsINEss RIsKs

The business risks that could adversely affect the 
achievement of  the financial performance or financial 
outcomes of  the Company are described below.

REHABILITATION

ERA has authority to produce uranium oxide at the 
Ranger Project Area until January 2021 and must fully 
rehabilitate the site by January 2026.

The ultimate cost of  rehabilitation is uncertain and 
while ERA has used its best estimate, costs may vary 
in response to factors such as legal requirements, 
technological change and market conditions. As a result 
of  the increase in the rehabilitation provision, ERA is 
continuing to review all funding options. An inability 
to obtain sufficient funding would have a material 
impact on ERA’s business, financial performance and 
assessment as a going concern. Rio Tinto has advised 
ERA it will work with ERA and its other shareholders and 
stakeholders with the objective of  ensuring that ERA is 
in a position to meet in full the likely future rehabilitation 
requirements of  the Ranger Project Area. ERA and  
Rio Tinto are continuing to engage in active discussions 
regarding a funding solution.

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITy RIsKs

The future liquidity and capital requirements of  the 
Company will depend on many factors. As noted above, 
following the increase in the rehabilitation provision, the 
Company requires an additional source of  funding  
to fully fund the rehabilitation of  the Ranger Project  
Area and is continuing to review all funding options.

Should current forecasts for foreign exchange  
rate, prices, costs, resource and mining techniques  
not be realised, and in the absence of  any other 
successful developments, the requirement for additional 
funding to fully fund the rehabilitation of  the Ranger 
Project Area will further increase. 

In 2016, the Company entered into a $100 million credit 
facility agreement with Rio Tinto in support of  ERA’s 
rehabilitation obligations should additional funding 
ultimately be required. This agreement, whilst still in place, 
is now insufficient to meet ERA’s funding shortfall. The 
credit facility agreement contains a review mechanism 
which is triggered if, before the first drawdown, the 
estimated rehabilitation cost increases by $12.5 million or 
more for reasons other than external factors or operational 
issues beyond ERA’s reasonable control. The review 

10

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD URANIUM MARKET DEMAND, PRICE AND 
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RIsKs 

ERA’s business relates primarily to the production and 
subsequent sale of  uranium oxide to Rio Tinto Uranium 
for on sale to a variety of  customers. Demand for, and 
pricing of, uranium oxide remains sensitive to external 
economic and political factors, many of  which are 
beyond ERA’s control.

Global uranium and foreign exchange market fluctuations 
may materially affect ERA’s financial performance.

GENERAL REGULATORy RI sKs

Uranium mining in Australia is extensively regulated by 
Commonwealth, and State or Territory Governments.

In particular, the approval processes for uranium mining 
are more onerous, and therefore more costly, than for the 
mining of  other minerals. Government actions in Australia 
and other jurisdictions in which ERA has interests, 
including new or amended legislation, guidelines and 
regulations in relation to the environment, uranium or 
nuclear power sectors, competition policy, native title  
and cultural heritage could impact ERA’s operations.

Operational aspects that may be affected include, among 
other things, land access rights, the granting of  licences 
and other tenements, the extension of  mine life and the 
approval of  developments.

BUsINEss RIsKs

UNDEVELOPED REsOURCEs

The Company has significant undeveloped uranium 
resources at Ranger 3 Deeps and Jabiluka.

Given the current uranium market environment, the Ranger 
3 Deeps project continues to face material barriers to 
development. Without a sustained and rapid recovery of  
the uranium market, the project is not economically viable. 

As a result of  this, ERA plans for a reduced care and 
maintenance program for the Ranger 3 Deeps exploration 
decline to be implemented in 2019 on receipt of  final 
regulatory approval. 

The implementation of  this reduced program will maintain 
project optionality, however amendments to legislation to 
effect an extension of  the Ranger Authority, which requires 
processing to cease in January 2021, would be required. 

At present, no work is being conducted on further 
development options for the Ranger 3 Deeps deposit.

The Company is currently processing stockpiled ore 
following the completion of  open cut mining in 2012. The 
stockpiles are potentially sufficient to sustain operations 
until January 2021, when the Ranger Authority expires.

In relation to Jabiluka, ERA has agreed that future 
mining development will not occur without the consent 
of  the Mirarr Traditional Owners. It is uncertain that this 
consent will be forthcoming and, by extension, that the 
Jabiluka deposit will be developed. Should this consent 
not eventuate in the future, the Jabiluka Undeveloped 
Property would face full impairment.

wATER MANAGEMENT

Management of  water on the Ranger Project Area is 
critical to the ongoing operation of  ERA’s processing  
and rehabilitation activities. ERA has a number of  
procedures and initiatives underway in respect to 
water management, including the Brine Concentrator. 
To the extent that these initiatives cost more than 
expected or ERA is required to implement further 
initiatives (such as the installation of  additional water 
treatment infrastructure), ERA’s financial and operational 
performance and position may be materially impacted.

11

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD FUTURE sUPPLy

EVALUATION AND EXPLORATION

There was no evaluation or exploration expenditure for 
2018. ERA suspended the final stage of  the surface 
exploration program on the Ranger Project Area in  
2015 to preserve cash following the deferral of  the 
Ranger 3 Deeps project.

The Ranger 3 Deeps exploration decline and associated 
infrastructure remains under care and maintenance. ERA 
plans for a reduced care and maintenance program for the 
Ranger 3 Deeps exploration decline to be implemented in 
2019 on receipt of  final regulatory approval.

RANGER 3 DEEPs RE sERVEs AND 
REsOURCEs 

The economic assumptions for the Ranger 3 Deeps 
Mineral Resource uses a cut-off  grade of  0.11% U3O8.  
The Ranger 3 Deeps estimated Mineral Resource is  
19.58 million tonnes with an overall grade of  0.224% U3O8, 
equating to 43,858 tonnes of  contained uranium oxide.

RANGER REsERVEs AND REsOURCEs

Probable Ore Reserves of  uranium oxide for Ranger 
decreased by 2,048 tonnes in 2018 to 3,735 tonnes at  
31 December 2018 (31 December 2017: 5,783 tonnes).

This included the impact of  depletion by processing in 
2018 of  2,280 tonnes.

During the reporting period, all processed ore was 
sourced from either run of  mine stocks or low grade 
stockpiles.

For the same period, Ranger Mineral Resources 
decreased by 434 tonnes of  uranium oxide, from  
55,135 tonnes to 54,701 tonnes.

The decrease was mainly due to the mining depletion  
of  low grade stocks below the reserve cut-off.

JABILUKA REsERVEs AND REsOURCEs

The Jabiluka Mineral Lease remains under long term care 
and maintenance. In accordance with the Long Term 
Care and Maintenance Agreement, development  
by ERA will not proceed without the approval of  the  
Mirarr Traditional Owners. 

The Jabiluka estimated Mineral Resource is 137,107 
tonnes of  uranium oxide at a cut-off  grade of  0.2% U3O8.

GOVERNANCE

ERA’s Competent Person is a full time employee of  ERA. 
The ERA Board oversees the governance of  Resources 
and Reserves. This includes the annual review and 
approval of  the publicly reported Ore Reserves and 
Mineral Resources Statement.

Internal approval of  Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources 
for ERA is the responsibility of  the Chief  Executive and 
estimates are carried out by a Competent Person as 
defined by the JORC Code 2012.

As part of  its internal controls, ERA applies the standards 
of  the Rio Tinto Ore Reserves Steering Committee 
(ORSC) in the generation and publication of  Mineral 
Resources and Ore Reserves.

The ORSC comprises senior representatives from 
technical, financial and business fields within the  
Rio Tinto Group and meets on a quarterly basis.

The ORSC’s role includes setting the standards and 
qualifications for Competent Persons in accordance with 
the JORC Code 2012 which form the basis of  Competent 
Person appointment by ERA.

Rio Tinto’s Resource and Reserve internal audit program 
is conducted by independent external consulting 
personnel in a program managed by Rio Tinto Group 
Audit and Assurance with the assistance of  the ORSC.

Rio Tinto has continued the development of  internal 
systems and controls to ensure compliance with the 
JORC Code 2012 in all external reporting including the 
preparation of  reported data by ERA’s Competent Person.

Other improvements introduced by the ORSC include 
a web-based reporting and sign-off  database, annual 
internal Competent Person reports and Competent 
Person development and training.

12

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ERA 2018 ORE REsERVEs & MINERAL REsOURCEs

CUT-OFF GRADE –  
sTOCKPILE ORE 0.06% U 3O8 
As AT 31 DECEMBER 2018

CUT-OFF GRADE – 
sTOCKPILE ORE 0.06% U 3O8 
As AT 31 DECEMBER 2017

ORE (MT)

% U3O8

T U3O8

ORE (MT)

% U3O8

T U3O8

RANGER PROBABLE ORE REsERVEs 
Current Stockpiles

4.90

0.076

 3,735

7.43

0.078

 5,783

In situ  

 Proved  

  Probable

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Sub-total Proved and Probable Reserves

4.90

0.076

 3,735

7.43

0.078

 5,783

Total Ranger No. 3 Stockpiles, Proved and 
Probable Reserves

4.90

0.076

 3,735

7.43

0.078

5,783

RANGER MINERAL REsOURCEs 
IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE RESERVE

CUT-OFF GRADE –  
sTOCKPILE REsOURCE 0.02% U 3O8 
UNDERGROUND INsITU REsOURCE 
0.11% U3O8

CUT-OFF GRADE –  
sTOCKPILE REsOURCE 0.02% U 3O8 
UNDERGROUND INsITU REsOURCE 
0.11% U3O8

ORE (MT)

% U3O8

T U3O8

ORE (MT)

% U3O8

T U3O8

Current Mineralised Stockpiles

27.16

0.04

10,843

28.16

0.04

11,277

In situ resource (R3 Deeps)

 Measured

 Indicated

Sub-total Measured and Indicated Resources

Inferred Resources

Total Resources

JABILUKA ORE REsERVEs  
(all written back to Mineral Resources)

 Proved  

  Probable

Total Proved and Probable Reserves

JABILUKA MINERAL REsOURCEs

 Measured

 Indicated

Sub-total Measured and Indicated

Inferred Resources

Total Resources

Rounding difference may occur.

 3.72

10.41

41.29

 5.44

46.74

0.27

0.22

0.11

0.20

0.12

 10,134

 22,636

43,614

11,087

 3.72

10.41

42.29

 5.44

54,701

47.74

0.27

0.22

0.10

0.20

0.12

 10,134

 22,636

44,047

11,087

55,135

As AT 31 DECEMBER 2018   
CUT-OFF GRADE 
0.20% U3O8

As AT 31 DECEMBER 2017   
CUT-OFF GRADE 
0.20% U3O8

ORE (MT)

% U3O8

T U3O8

ORE (MT)

% U3O8

T U3O8

–

–

–

 1.21

13.88

15.09

10.03

25.12

–

–

–

0.89

0.52

0.55

0.54

–

–

–

10,769

72,176

82,945

54,162

–

–

–

 1.21

13.88

15.09

10.03

–

–

–

0.89

0.52

0.55

0.54

–

–

–

10,769

72,176

82,945

54,162

0.55

137,107

25.12

0.55

137,107

13

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
FUTURE sUPPLy

ORE REsERVEs

Ranger Ore Reserves as at 31 December 2017

Additions (favourable model variance)

Depletion by Processing

Exclusion of  lowest grade ore not mined or processed by 8 January 2021

Ranger Ore Reserves as at 31 December 2018

*Rounding differences may occur

URANIUM OXIDE 
(U3O8 TONNEs)*

5,783

1,148

(2,280)

(915)

3,735

COMPETENT PERsONs

Ranger and Jabiluka Ore Reserves and Mineral 
Resources are reported in accordance with the 
Australasian Code for Reporting of  Exploration Results, 
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, 2012 Edition 
(JORC Code 2012).

Neither the information that relates to Ranger and 
Jabiluka Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, nor the 
underlying resource models, have changed since the 
ERA 2018 Annual Statement of  Reserves and Resources 
was disclosed to ASX.

The JORC Code 2012 envisages the use of reasonable 
investment assumptions, including the use of projected long 
term commodity prices, in calculating reserve estimates.

ERA is not aware of  any new information or data beyond 
the updates already provided to the market that materially 
affects the Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources estimate.

As required by the Australian Securities Exchange 
(ASX), the above tables also contain details of  other 
mineralisation that has a reasonable prospect of  being 
economically extracted in the future but which is not yet 
classified as Proven or Probable Reserves.

This material is defined as Mineral Resources under the 
JORC Code 2012. Estimates of  such material are based 
largely on geological information with only preliminary 
consideration of  mining, economic and other factors.

While in the judgement of  the Competent Person there 
are realistic expectations that all or part of  the Mineral 
Resources will eventually become Proven or Probable 
Reserves, there is no guarantee that this will occur as the 
result depends on further technical and economic studies 
and prevailing economic conditions in the future.

The information in the above table is sourced from 
the Energy Resources of  Australia Ltd (ERA) 2018 
Annual Statement of  Reserves and Resources which 
was released to ASX on 8 February 2019 and can be 
found at: https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190208/
pdf/442gq6rxwywcpj.pdf

All assumptions and technical parameters underpinning 
the estimates continue to apply and have not materially 
changed. The information in this report that relates 
to Ranger and Jabiluka Ore Reserves and Mineral 
Resources is based on information compiled by geologist 
Stephen Pevely (a full time employee of  ERA).

Stephen Pevely is a member of  the Australasian Institute 
of  Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience 
which is relevant to the style of  mineralisation and the 
type of  deposit under consideration, and to the activity 
being undertaken, to qualify as a Competent Person 
as defined in the JORC Code 2012. Stephen Pevely 
consents to the inclusion in this report of  the matters 
based on his information in the form and context in  
which it appears.

Summary data for year end 2017 are shown for 
comparison. Metric units are used throughout. The 
figures used to calculate reserves and resources are 
often more precise than the rounded numbers shown 
in the tables, hence small differences may result if  the 
calculations are repeated using the tabulated figures.

14

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD sALEs AND MARKETING

ERA sells uranium primarily under long term contracts via 
a sales and marketing agreement with Rio Tinto Uranium. 
ERA entered into a Revised Sales and Marketing Agreement 
with Rio Tinto Uranium in August 2017. Under the revised 
agreement, ERA’s allocation of existing Rio Tinto Uranium 
contracts were fixed from 1 January 2017. 

ERA’s reliance on long-term contracts provides its 
customers with security of  continued supply, and has 
helped ERA achieve prices for its uranium that are 
significantly above the global spot price.

The average realised price for ERA’s uranium in 2018 was 
US$47.67 per pound (2017: $34.75). ERA continues to 
achieve prices which significantly exceed the average 
spot price which was US$24.59 per pound in 2018.

ERA’s customers are located in the United States of  
America, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea and the 
UAE and use ERA’s product as fuel to generate low 
emissions power. 

While the global uranium market remains relatively 
subdued, the spot price of  uranium improved in the 
second half  of  2018, exceeding US$28.50 per pound, 
representing a 40 per cent increase from the spot price 
in April. 

The pace of  Japanese nuclear reactor restarts has been 
slow following the failure at Fukushima, however five 
reactors restarted in 2018. The World Nuclear Association 
notes there are currently 454 operable nuclear reactors  
in the world providing approximately 10.5 per cent of   
the share of  global electricity generation and a further  
54 reactors under construction. 

Should uranium inventories continue to decline, a further 
appreciation in the spot-price price can be expected. 
Many analysts believe China’s nuclear energy program  
has a key role to play in the longer term uranium outlook. 

Despite the rise of renewable energy sources, nuclear 
power will continue to play an important role in the overall 
global energy mix. It is predicted that by 2030, nuclear 
power will continue to supply 7 per cent of the global 
electricity and be the primary source of power in up to  
20 countries. In 2018, South Korea, Bangladesh, Russia and 
Turkey commenced construction of new nuclear plants.

15

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD HEALTH AND sAFETy

At ERA, safety comes first. It is central to workplace 
culture and operational activities.

ERA’s safety goals, accountabilities and systems are 
articulated in ERA’s Health, Safety and Environment 
Management System, which is certified to Australian 
(AS4801) and international (ISO14001) standards and 
subject to regular review.

A key performance measure at ERA is the All Injury 
Frequency Rate (AIFR). AIFR measures the frequency of  
recordable injuries – lost time injuries, restricted work injuries 
and medical treatment cases – per 200,000 hours worked.

In 2018, ERA achieved an AIFR of  0.56 (2017: 1.17;  
2016: 0.19).

During the year ERA recorded one lost time injury, one 
restricted work day injury and one medical treatment 
case injury. 

The importance of  safety leadership and safety 
awareness was highlighted through the year. These 
initiatives included Back to Basics: HSE Fundamentals, 
Peer Support and Build Up Blues mental health 
programs, vibration testing, hearing conservation 
campaign and several workshops on other health  
and safety issues.

CRITICAL RIsK MANAGEMENT 

Critical Risk Management (CRM) is a global Rio Tinto 
safety initiative designed to ensure that each work area has 
a clear understanding of  what fatal risks are associated 
with work activities, and to ensure there are verified 
effective controls in place prior to commencing a task.

ERA continued to embed the CRM processes during 
2018, involving the use of  critical control checklists,  
field verifications and standards.  

A number of  other initiatives support CRM, including  
the integration of  identified health critical risks into  
risk management documentation. Departmental  
CRM self-verifications have been included into the 
monthly scheduled program and leadership in the  
field as a key objective. CRM was also supported by  
a “Stop and Seek Help” recognition program, where 
employees are rewarded for stopping a job if  they  
feel the conditions are unsafe.

MANAGING HEAT AND HUMIDITy

During the wet season from October through to March, 
hydration and thermal stress become critical issues for 
ERA’s workforce. Employees and contractors required 
to work outdoors while wearing protective clothing and 

16

equipment are at risk of  thermal stress.

Each year ERA implements programs designed to 
encourage behaviours which can help to manage 
thermal stress and maintain hydration. In 2018, ERA 
commissioned heat stress physiological monitoring  
and a hydration self-testing campaign.

AUDITs

ERA’s integrated Health, Safety and Environment 
Management System provides certification to both ISO 
14001 (the international standard for environmental 
management systems) and AS4801 (the Australian standard 
for occupational health and safety management systems).

The system was audited in February 2018 and  
re-certification granted in 2018.

ERA underwent a Rio Tinto Business Conformance Audit 
in March and three Critical Risk assessment audits during 
2018, in April, August and November.

EMERGENCy RE sPONsE 

Building ERA’s Emergency Response Team skills and 
capabilities continued to be a strong focus during 2018. 
The team comprises 11 Emergency Services Officers 
and 24 workforce volunteers who are trained to respond 
immediately to incidents such as evacuation, fires or 
vehicle accidents.

ERA has invested in specialist training for team members 
and has also been actively recruiting and training  
new members.

A simulated emergency exercise to test business 
resilience was held in September. In the same month a live 
emergency exercise was conducted at the Jabiru airport 
as part of  the Civil Aviation Safety Authority certification 
involving ERA and local Jabiru emergency services.

RADIATION MONITORING 

ERA monitors radiation at Ranger in accordance with  
the Company’s Radiation Policy and Radiation 
Management Plan.

The desired performance outcomes are described in 
ERA’s Health, Safety and Environment Management 
System, which is certified to Australian (AS4801) and 
international (ISO14001) standards.

Monitoring results are compared to limits recommended 
by the International Commission on Radiological 
Protection (ICRP) for occupationally exposed persons  
as adopted by Australian legislation.

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD HEALTH AND sAFETy

ERA employees and contractors whose occupational 
exposure to radiation may exceed 5 mSv per year are 
declared ‘designated’ workers and their exposure is more 
stringently monitored. Examples of  activities at Ranger 
that require a designated worker status include mine 
production, process production, process maintenance 
and electrical maintenance.

To ensure the highest possible quality control on radiation 
doses, the results are reviewed internally by ERA and 
externally by the Company’s regulators. ERA provides 
quarterly occupational radiation dose data for workers at 
Ranger mine to the Australian Government’s Australian 
Radiation Dose Register. 

The maximum and mean annual radiation doses received 
by designated workers and the maximum radiation  
doses received by non-designated workers during  
2018 will be reported in the 2018 Annual Ranger  

Mine and Ranger 3 Deeps Radiation Protection  
and Atmospheric Monitoring Report.

Preliminary analysis of  the available dose results for 
2018 indicates that all occupational and public radiation 
doses remain well below the national and international 
dose limits. The resulting contribution from Ranger mine 
remains very low in comparison to both the public dose 
limit and the natural background radiation level. 

The table on this page provides a summary of  maximum 
and mean annual radiation doses received by designated 
and non-designated workers for the first three quarters of  
the year. Historically the theoretical contribution from the 
Ranger mine has been, on average, approximately 0.02 
mSv (or two per cent) of  the 1 mSv member of  public dose 
limit and less than one per cent of  the natural background 
radiation level in Australia of  between 2 and 3 mSv. 

DESIGNATED WORKERS

NON DESIGNATED WORKERS

2018

Q1

Q2

Q3

Mean

0.38

0.38

0.49

Max

1.32

0.96

2.36

Mean

0.11

0.14

0.22

Max

0.24

0.24

0.35

17

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD REGULATORy FRAMEwORK

Uranium mining activities in Australia are strictly regulated 
by the Commonwealth and State or Territory Governments.

The purpose of  these regulations is to ensure uranium 
mining performance and compliance in a range of  critical 
areas, including health and safety, mine safety, safe 
management of  toxic and radioactive substances, waste 
disposal, transport safety, export controls, protection and 
rehabilitation of  the environment, native title, exploration, 
development, taxes and royalties, labour standards and 
mine reclamation.

International agreements designed to prevent nuclear 
proliferation also govern the mining and export of  uranium.

Exports are subject to strict safeguards and conditions  
to ensure that Australian uranium is only used for 
peaceful purposes.

REGULATION OF ERA’s OPERATION s

Commonwealth and Northern Territory legislation 
provides the regulatory framework for ERA’s uranium 
mining activities.

ERA’s operations are closely supervised and monitored 
by statutory bodies including:

•  Commonwealth Department of  Industry, Innovation and 

Science;

•  Northern Territory Department of  Primary Industry and 

Resources;

•  Commonwealth Government’s Supervising Scientist 

Branch;

•  Northern Land Council;

•  Alligator Rivers Region Advisory Committee (including 
non-government organisation representatives); and

•  Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (including 

non-government organisation representatives).

The Ranger and Jabiluka Minesite Technical Committees 
are the key forums for consideration of  environmental 
matters relating to Ranger and Jabiluka.

Committee members include representatives of  the 
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, the Northern  
Land Council, the Northern Territory Department of  
Primary Industry and Resources, the Commonwealth 
Department of  Industry, Innovation and Science and  
the Commonwealth Supervising Scientist Branch.

The Alligator Rivers Region Advisory Committee 
(ARRAC) provides a formal forum for consultation on 
matters relating to the effects of  uranium mining on the 
environment in the region.

Committee members include representatives of  the 
Northern Territory Government, the Commonwealth 
Government, the Northern Land Council, Aboriginal 
associations, mining companies (including ERA), 
West Arnhem Regional Council, the Northern Territory 
Environment Centre and other members who may  
be appointed by the Commonwealth Minister for  
the Environment.

Further information on ARRAC can be obtained at: http://
www.environment.gov.au/science/supervising-scientist/
communication/committees/arrac

The Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC) 
oversees the nature and extent of  research being 
undertaken to protect and restore the environment in the 
Alligator Rivers Region from any effects of  uranium mining.

The 10 ARRTC members include independent 
scientists nominated by the Federation of  Australian 
Scientists Branch and Technological Societies 
with the remaining representatives being from the 
Commonwealth Supervising Scientist Branch, Northern 
Territory Government, Uranium Equities Ltd, Northern 
Land Council, Parks Australia and a non-government 
environment organisation.

Further information on ARRTC can be contained at: http://
www.environment.gov.au/science/supervising-scientist/
communication/committees/arrtc

INTERNATIONAL AND AUsTRALIAN 
CERTIFICATION 

ERA maintains international certification (ISO 14001)  
of  its Health, Safety and Environment Management 
System which includes the Company’s Water 
Management System.

ERA also maintains Australian certification (AS4801) of  
its Health, Safety and Environment Management System 
including the Ranger Radiation Management System.

18

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD FINANCIAL
REPORT

CONTENTs

DIRECTOR’S REPORT 

20

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION 

43

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

44

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

50

BALANCE SHEET 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

CASHFLOW STATEMENT 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

DIRECTOR’S DECLARATION 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 

SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION 

2018 ASX ANNOUNCEMENTS 

TEN YEAR PERFORMANCE 

INDEX 

51

52

53

54

86

87

93

95

96

97

ENERGy REsOURCEs OF AUsTRALIA LTD  19

DIRECTOR's REPORT

DIRECTORs

PETER MANsELL

CHAIRMAN

BCom, LLB, H. Dip. Tax, FAICD

PAUL ARNOLD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MANAGING 
DIRECTOR

BE (Hons) Mining, MBA, MAusIMM, MAICD

sHANE CHARLEs

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LLB

Appointed in October 2015.

Appointed in August 2017.

Appointed in October 2015.

Mr Arnold brings extensive experience 
to ERA gained over more than 25 years 
in the resources sector working in 
operations, commercial, business analysis 
and major project development roles. 
Mr Arnold has worked in the Rio Tinto 
group since 2001 and was most recently 
Rio Tinto Aluminium’s Pacific Operations 
Engineering and Growth team leader. 
Before joining Rio Tinto, Mr Arnold worked 
for more than a decade with BHP in 
operations and corporate roles.

Mr Arnold was a Director of  the 
Queensland Resources Council for over  
5 years and as past Chair of  the 
Indigenous Affairs Committee established 
the annual Queensland Resources 
Council Indigenous Awards in 2014.

Chair of  the Audit and Risk Committee 
from January 2016; member of  Health, 
Safety and Environment Committee and 
Remuneration Committee.

Mr Charles is currently the Executive 
Chairman of  the Toowoomba and Surat 
Basin Enterprise (TSBE), an independent, 
business driven economic development 
organisation with a vision to pursue 
sustainable growth and diversity.  
Mr Charles is also currently General 
Manager Strategy and Development 
at Wagners, Chairman of  Sunrise Way 
Rehabilitation Limited and President of  the 
Royal Agricultural Society of  Queensland.

He has also previously acted as 
Chairman of  Stanwell Corporation 
Limited, as director and Chairman 
of  the Endeavour Foundation and 
as a commissioner of  the Gasfields 
Commission of  Queensland.

External appointments: Executive 
Chairman of  TSBE; Chairman of  Sunrise 
Way Rehabilitation Limited; and  
President of  the Royal Agricultural 
Society of  Queensland.

Chairman of  Remuneration Committee 
and member of  Audit and Risk 
Committee.

Mr Mansell has extensive experience 
in the mining, corporate and energy 
sectors, both as an advisor and as an 
independent non-executive Chairman 
and Director of  listed and unlisted 
companies.

Mr Mansell practised law for a number 
of  years as a partner in corporate and 
resources law firms in each of  South 
Africa and Australia. He retired from 
legal practice in 2004 and has since 
held directorships in a number of  
companies including BWP Management 
Ltd, Foodland Associated Ltd, OZ 
Minerals Ltd, W.A. Newspaper Holdings 
Ltd (Chairman), Electricity Networks 
Corporation (trading as Western Power) 
(Chairman) and Zinifex Ltd (Chairman).

Mr Mansell also chaired the Advisory 
Board of  Pacific Aluminium Ltd in 
anticipation of  its intended float in 2014.

External appointments: Director of  Eastern 
Goldfields Limited, Foodbank Australia 
Ltd, CQ Select Pty Ltd, Cancer Research 
Fund Pty Ltd and Z-Filter Pty Ltd; former 
non-executive director of  Aurecon Group 
Pty Ltd (until September 2017) and Tap Oil 
Limited (until January 2018).

2020

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

DIRECTORs

PAUL DOwD

ZARA FIsHER

ANDREA sUTTON

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BSC (ENG), FAUSIMM, MAICD

B Com, MASc, MAICD

BE (Hons) Chemical, GradDipEcon, 
GAICD

Appointed in October 2015.

Appointed in August 2016.

Appointed in October 2018.

Ms Sutton served as Chief  Executive and 
Managing Director of  ERA from 2013 to 
2017. In addition to her ERA experience, 
Ms Sutton brings extensive operational, 
technical and corporate experience from 
nearly 25 years with Rio Tinto, including 
as Managing Director with the Rio Tinto 
Support Strategy Review team, General 
Manager Operations at the Bengalla mine 
and General Manager Infrastructure with 
Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Ms Sutton is currently 
the head of  health, safety, security and 
environment services at Rio Tinto.

External appointments: Former chair of  
the Northern Territory Minerals Council of  
Australia Management Committee; former 
member of  the Northern Territory Mining 
Advisory Council.

Member of Health, Safety and Environment 
Committee (from January 2017).

Ms Fisher has worked in the mining 
industry for over 20 years and is currently 
Vice President HSE for Rio Tinto Iron 
Ore. In this role she is accountable for 
the health, safety and environmental 
performance of  Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore 
operations and is a member of  the Iron 
Ore Executive Committee. Previously 
Ms Fisher has worked with Rio Tinto 
in a range of  roles in Australia and 
internationally in the Iron Ore, Aluminium, 
Copper, Energy and Minerals groups. 
Ms Fisher has extensive experience 
in operations, maintenance, strategy, 
corporate services and finance.

Ms Fisher holds a Bachelor of  Commerce 
and a Masters of  Applied Science 
(Environmental Management and 
Restoration) and is a member of  the 
Australian Institute of  Company Directors. 
Prior to joining Rio Tinto Ms Fisher 
worked in chartered accounting.

Chair of  Health, Safety and Environment 
Committee; member of  Audit and Risk 
Committee and Remuneration Committee.

Mr Dowd is a mining engineer with 
more than 50 years’ experience in the 
mining industry, primarily in the private 
sector, but also serving in the public 
sector as head of  the Victorian Mines 
and Petroleum Departments. Mr Dowd 
has previously held senior executive 
management positions including as 
Managing Director of  Newmont Australia 
Ltd and Vice President of  Newmont 
Mining Corporation’s Australian and  
New Zealand Operations and prior to  
that as Chief  Operating Officer of  
Normandy Mining Ltd.

Mr Dowd was previously Chairman  
of  Adelaide Resources Ltd and a  
non-executive Director of  Oz Minerals 
Limited and Macarthur Coal Ltd.

External appointments: Non-executive 
Director of  PNX Metals Limited; 
Chairman of  CSIRO Minerals Resources 
Sector Advisory Council; Advisory Board 
Member of  South Australian Minerals and 
Petroleum Expert Group (SAMPEG) and 
University of  Queensland – Sustainable 
Minerals Institute.

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

DIRECTORs

KEVIN MCLEIsH

sINEAD KAUFMAN

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

B Metallurgy MA Bus

MSC Mineral Exploration, BSC (HONS) 
Geology

Appointed in June 2018 and resigned 
October 2018.

Appointed in November 2017 and 
resigned in June 2018.

Before retiring at the end of  2018,  
Mr McLeish had almost 30 years’ 
experience in Rio Tinto across operations 
in Australia and Africa, holding various 
operational roles, including as global 
practice leader, Safety for the  
Rio Tinto Group. Mr McLeish’s final  
role at Rio Tinto was the Managing 
Director, Salt & Uranium.

Ms Kaufman has worked for Rio Tinto  
for over 20 years and is currently the 
Managing Director Operations in the 
Copper & Diamonds product group.

Ms Kaufman’s previous positions include 
Managing Director – Coal, Salt and 
Uranium and Managing Director, Rio 
Tinto Coal Australia. Ms Kaufman first 
joined Rio Tinto as a geologist in the 
United Kingdom and has since gained 
international mining experience across a 
range of  commodities including copper, 
aluminium, bauxite and iron ore in both 
underground and open pit environments.

Ms Kaufman holds a Masters in Mineral 
Exploration from the University of  
Leicester and a Degree in Applied 
Geology with Honours from the University 
of  Birmingham.

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PAUL ARNOLD

DAVID BLANCH

LEsLEy BRyCE

CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MANAGING 
DIRECTOR

BE (Hons) Mining, MBA, MAusIMM, MAICD

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

GENERAL MANAGER OPERATIONs

BA, CA, Grad Dip Applied Finance

B Eng (Hons) Microelectronics

See biography on page 20.

Mr Blanch was appointed as Chief  
Financial Officer in July 2018 and brings 
over 16 years’ financial, accounting and 
business development experience to ERA.

Mr Blanch brings previous experience in 
business analysis in the Rio Tinto Copper 
& Diamonds product group and has also 
worked in various financial and corporate 
roles in Rio Tinto. Mr Blanch is a Chartered 
Accountant through the Institute of  
Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Ms Bryce was appointed General 
Manager Operations in June 2017.

Ms Bryce has previously worked in 
diagnostic engineering in the electronics 
industry, and Quality Management (ISO 
9001) and Business Improvement in 
the manufacturing industry. In 2005 Ms 
Bryce joined Rio Tinto working in the 
Shared Services, Aluminium and Argyle 
Diamonds sectors.

Ms Bryce brings to ERA senior level 
experience in Business Improvement, 
Operations, Projects and Planning.

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

JAMEs O’CONNELL

ALAN TIETZEL

JAMEs MAy

LEGAL COUNsEL AND COMPANy 
sECRETARy 

LLB, BCOM

CHIEF ADVIsOR AGREEMENTs

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

BA, BCOM, DIP ED MBA

BA (HONS), FCA, GAICD

Mr O’Connell joined ERA as Legal 
Counsel in June 2017 and was appointed 
Company Secretary in August 2017.

Mr O’Connell joined Rio Tinto in 
2010, most recently acting as Senior 
Corporate Counsel in London. Before 
joining Rio Tinto, Mr O’Connell worked 
at private law firms in Melbourne and 
London. Professionally qualified in both 
Australia and the United Kingdom, he 
has Bachelor of  Laws and Bachelor 
of  Commerce degrees from Monash 
University.

Mr Tietzel was appointed as General 
Manager External Relations in July 
2010 and subsequently Chief  Advisor 
Agreements in September 2012. He 
has a background in Aboriginal land 
agreements, regional development, 
government relations, human resources 
and organisation development.

Mr Tietzel joined Rio Tinto in 1990 and 
has worked in the diamonds, salt, bauxite 
and alumina sectors and in a variety of  
corporate functions.

Mr May was appointed as Chief  Financial 
Officer in June 2014 and resigned in 
July 2018. Mr May has over 18 years’ 
experience in finance roles in the energy 
and extractive resources sector and is 
currently General Manager, Marketing 
and Uranium in the Energy & Minerals 
product group.

Prior to joining ERA, Mr May held  
various finance and corporate roles 
within Rio Tinto. Mr May is a Chartered 
Accountant through the Institute of  
Chartered Accountants in England  
and Wales.

2424

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Meetings of Directors
The number of Directors and committee meetings held and the number of meetings attended by each of the Directors of the Company 
during the financial year are shown below:

DIRECTOR

P Mansell

P Arnold

Z Fisher

S Charles

P Dowd

A Sutton1

K McLeish2

S Kaufman3

DIRECTORS
MEETINGS4

AUDIT AND RISK 
COMMITTEE4

REMUNERATION 
COMMITTEE4

HSE COMMITTEE4

OTHER

7/7

7/7

7/7

7/7

7/7

1/1

3/3

2/3

3/3

-

-

3/3

3/3

-

-

-

2/2

-

-

2/2

2/2

-

-

-

-

-

3/3

3/3

3/3

-

-

-

1/1

-

-

1/1

1/1

-

-

-

Note 1 
Note 2 
Note 3 
Note 4 

Appointed as a Director 30 October 2018.
Appointed as a Director 19 June 2018 and resigned as a Director 30 October 2018.
Resigned as a Director 19 June 2018.
Number of meetings attended/maximum the Director could have attended.

Mr Arnold was invited to meetings of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Health, Safety and Environment Committee and attended 
all such meetings held during that time.

Interests of Directors
The interests of each Director in the share capital of the Company and its related body corporates as at 31 January 2019 are shown 
below: 

ENERGY RESOURCES 
OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
ORDINARY SHARES

RIO TINTO LIMITED 
ORDINARY SHARES

RIO TINTO LIMITED 
OPTIONS IN 
ORDINARY SHARES

RIO TINTO LIMITED 
CONDITIONAL 
INTERESTS IN 
ORDINARY SHARES

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,000

2,800

-

1,500

3,795

9,937

6,075

4,665

-

-

-

-

-

1,158

-

-

-

8,789

-

-

14,067

19,515

25,397

37,600

DIRECTORS

P Mansell

P Arnold

S Charles

P Dowd

Z Fisher

A Sutton1

K McLeish2

S Kaufman3

Note 1  
Note 2 
Note 3 

Appointed as a Director 30 October 2018.
Appointed as a Director 19 June 2018 and resigned as a Director 30 October 2018. 
Resigned as a Director 19 June 2018.

2525

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
DIRECTOR's REPORT

Remuneration report
The Remuneration Report is set out under the following main 
headings:

A. 
B. 

C. 
D. 
E. 
F. 
G. 

Board oversight of remuneration
Principles used to determine non-executive Directors’  
remuneration
Principles used to determine executive remuneration
Details of remuneration
Executive service agreements
Share based compensation
Additional information 

The information provided in the Remuneration Report has been 
audited by the Company’s independent auditor as required by 
section 308(3C) of the Corporations Act 2001.

A 
Board oversight of remuneration
The Remuneration Committee has responsibility to review:

• 

• 

• 

• 

remuneration framework and policies (including key 
performance indicators) for the Company’s Chief Executive 
and senior executives;
remuneration and performance of the Company’s Chief 
Executive and senior executives;
remuneration of the Company’s non-executive Directors; 
and
remuneration disclosures made by the Company.

The Remuneration Committee Charter is available at the 
Corporate Governance section of ERA’s website. 

Principles used to determine non- 

B 
executive Directors’ remuneration
Fees and payments to non-executive Directors reflect the 
demands which are made on, and the responsibilities of, the non-
executive Directors. The Remuneration Committee reviews and 
makes recommendations to the Board regarding non-executive 
Directors’ remuneration. These fees are comprised of a base 
fee and any fees payable to non-executive Directors for their 
membership on established committees of the Board. ERA does 
not pay retirement or post-employment benefits to non-executive 
Directors, however, statutory superannuation contributions are 
paid to non-executive Directors. In addition, from time to time, 
the Board may approve that non-executive Directors receive 
additional fees for services provided outside the established 
committee processes.

The following principles are applied in determining the 
remuneration of non-executive Directors:

• 

• 
• 

• 

the responsibilities of, and time spent by, the non-executive 
Directors on the affairs of ERA, including preparation time;
acknowledgement of the personal risk borne as a Director;
comparison with professional market rates of remuneration 
to remain competitive with the market having regard to 
companies of similar size and complexity; and
the desire to attract Directors of a high calibre with 
appropriate levels of expertise and experience.

amend the Constitution of the Company to provide that the  
aggregate remuneration for non-executive Directors of ERA 
would be not more than $800,000 per annum.  At the 2018 
Annual General Meeting, the 2017 Remuneration Report was 
approved with 90.09 per cent of shares voted in favour (voting 
comprised 355,663,697 votes ‘for’ the resolution and 39,119,746 
votes ‘against’ the resolution). North Limited and Peko-Wallsend 
Pty Ltd, which are both Rio Tinto entities, voted a combined total 
of 354,078,854 votes ‘for’ the resolution. The aggregate amount 
of non-executive Directors’ remuneration paid in 2018 was  
approximately $716,000 inclusive of statutory superannuation. 

The non-executive Directors’ fees were reviewed by the Board 
in January 2018. The annual fees for non-executive Directors for 
2018 (excluding superannuation) are as follows:

Chairman   

Non-executive Director

Audit and Risk Committee 
Chair1

Audit and Risk Committee 
Member1

Health, Safety and        
Environment Chair1

Health, Safety and         
Environment Committee              
Member1

Remuneration Committee 
Chair1

2018

$172,000

$96,000

2017

$168,300

$93,840

$22,500

$20,400

$13,260

$13,260

$20,400

$20,400

$13,260

$13,260

$20,400

$20,400

Note 1  Fees are payable in addition to Chairman and non-executive Director fees.

The Board also resolved that all non-executive Director and 
Committee fees should increase by a percentage equal to the 
average increase awarded to employees across the Company 
until the next detailed review is conducted, which should take 
place in January 2021.

Principles used to determine executive 

C 
remuneration 
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for the review of, 
and where appropriate will make recommendations to the Board 
in respect of, executive remuneration.

The Corporations Act 2001 and relevant Accounting Standards 
require disclosures in respect of “key management personnel”, 
being those persons having authority and responsibility for 
planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company.

The key management personnel are, in addition to the Directors, 
the permanent General Managers of the Company (including 
the Chief Advisor Agreements) reporting directly to the Chief 
Executive. Throughout this Remuneration Report the key 
management personnel who are not Directors are collectively 
referred to as “senior executives”.

At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, shareholders resolved to 

As the Company is a member company of the Rio Tinto Group, it 

2626

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
DIRECTOR's REPORT

generally implements the remuneration policies and procedures 
determined by the Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee and 
applied to senior management personnel across the wider Rio 
Tinto Group to determine the remuneration of the Chief Executive 
and senior executives.

As a member of the Rio Tinto Group, ERA’s Chief Executive and 
senior executives are seconded from Rio Tinto and are hence 
drawn from the talented pool of executives in the wider Rio Tinto 
Group. It is the view of the Remuneration Committee (which has 
been endorsed by the Board) that a company of ERA’s size, 
scope and remote location would have significant difficulty in 
attracting executives of the calibre necessary to ensure superior 
performance or in retaining them for significant periods if this 
arrangement was not in place. Under these circumstances, 
the Board believes that the general application of the Rio 
Tinto remuneration framework to ERA’s Chief Executive and 
senior executives, with appropriate review by the Company’s 
Remuneration Committee, is of benefit to ERA. 

For the purposes of assessing the appropriate level of 
remuneration, the Australian resources sector is considered 
the most relevant comparator group. Additional references are 
also made to other relevant supplementary comparator groups. 
Typically, base salaries are positioned at the median of these 
comparator groups, while incentive plans are designed with the 
potential to deliver total remuneration outcomes across the full 
market range according to business and individual performance. 
The related costs of these programs are recognised in the 
Company’s financial statements.

Executive remuneration, including base salary and short and long 
term incentive plan awards, and other terms of employment are 
reviewed annually having regard to the evaluation of individual 
and business performance against goals set at the start of the 
year, global economic conditions and relevant comparative 
information. As well as base salary, remuneration packages may 
include fringe benefits such as medical insurance, car, rent and 
other allowances, superannuation, retirement entitlements and 
short and long term incentives. 

The annual performance evaluation and management process for 
2018 included formal consultation between the Chairman (based 
on the Remuneration Committee’s review and recommendations) 
and the Managing Director, Rio Tinto, Salt and Uranium 
regarding the Chief Executive of the Company, and between 
the Remuneration Committee and the Chief Executive of the 
Company regarding the senior executives. 

An annual performance evaluation of the Chief Executive and 
senior executives was undertaken in 2018.

The executive pay and reward framework is designed to provide 
a total remuneration package which is competitive in the market, 
aligns total remuneration with delivered individual and short 
and long term business performance, strikes an appropriate 
balance between fixed and variable components, links variable 
components to the achievement of challenging individual and 
business performance targets, and ensures the attraction, 
motivation and retention of the high calibre senior executives 
required to lead the Company. 

The Company Secretary of the Company is subject to the same 
executive remuneration pay and reward framework.

The executive pay and reward framework has four components:

• 
• 
• 

• 

base salary and benefits;
short term incentive plans; 
long term incentive plans through participation in the Rio 
Tinto 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (EIP), the Rio Tinto plan 
introduced in 2018 which will govern all future long-term, 
share-based remuneration, including management share 
awards (MSA), performance share awards (PSA) and bonus 
deferral awards (BDA), and, in the case of the former Chief 
Executive Ms Sutton, the ERA Long Term Incentive Plan 
(ERA LTIP); and 
other remuneration such as superannuation.

Performance and non-performance related 
remuneration
Total remuneration is a combination of the fixed, performance 
and service related elements described in this report. The short 
and long term incentives are the variable components of the 
total remuneration package and are therefore “at risk”. They are 
tied to achievement of specific business measures, individual 
performance and service. Other components are referred to as 
“fixed” as they are not at risk.

The long term incentive plans are designed to provide a target 
expected value of between 22.5 and 45 per cent of base salary 
for the senior executives and the Chief Executive, delivered in 
any one year through a blend of PSAs and MSAs. In 2018, both 
PSAs and MSAs were awarded.

In 2016 the Remuneration Committee determined that the Chief 
Executive’s remuneration should be simplified and the ERA LTIP 
was discontinued. As such, the final award made under the ERA 
LTIP was in 2015.

Excluding post-employment and non-monetary benefits, the 
proportion of total direct remuneration, assuming maximum award 
levels and maximum levels of performance, provided by way of 
variable at risk components as at 31 December 2018 for the Chief 
Executive and senior executives was between 48 and 68 per cent. 
The actual proportion of total direct remuneration provided by way 
of variable performance related components will differ from these 
percentages depending on measured Company, Rio Tinto and 
individual performance and the current blend of share plans.

Base salary
Base salary is set at a level consistent with market expectations 
within the wider Rio Tinto remuneration framework and may be 
delivered as a mix of cash and prescribed non-financial benefits. 
It is targeted broadly at the median of companies of similar size, 
global reach and complexity, including other large natural resource 
companies. Base salary is reviewed annually and adjusted taking 
into account the individual and Company performance, global 
economic conditions, role responsibilities, an assessment against 
comparator groups, internal relativities and base salary budgets 
applying to the broader employee population.

2727

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Short term incentive plan
The short term incentive plan provides a bonus opportunity and is 
designed to support the overall remuneration policy by focusing 
management personnel on calendar year performance against 
challenging individual and business targets. 

Short term incentive performance conditions
Individual performance is reviewed against relevant targets and 
objectives annually.  The Chief Executive and senior executives 
of the Company have between 40 and 70 per cent of their 
performance-based bonus based on business measures, with the 
remainder based on individual measures. 

The short term incentive plan bonus payments disclosed in this 
report are amounts paid in 2018 relating to performance in 2017, 
as 2018 performance calculations are not finalised at the date 
of this report.  The Company’s business performance measures 
for 2017 used in the determination of short term incentive plan 
payments were:

• 

• 
• 

Safety - All Injury Frequency Rate, Lost Time Injuries 
and measures relating to implementation of critical risk 
management (CRM);
Financial - net earnings and free cash flow; and
Business - drummed production, cost of material milled, 
volume and cost of material moved and Brine Concentrator 
performance.

Incentive Plans
In 2018, Rio Tinto implemented a new discretionary employee 
share plan, the Rio Tinto 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (EIP), 
for executive directors and employees. The EIP replaced Rio 
Tinto’s Performance Share Plan (PSP) 2013, Management 
Share Plan (MSP) 2007 and Bonus Deferral Plan (BDP). This 
allowed Rio Tinto to continue operating its long-term incentive 
arrangements (including bonus deferred awards) through a 
single set of plan rules. As previously outlined, the Remuneration 
Committee believes that the general application of the Rio 
Tinto remuneration framework (including the EIP to ERA’s Chief 
Executive and senior executives, with appropriate review by the 
Remuneration Committee) is of benefit to the Company. During 
2019, the Remuneration Committee will review the position for 
future years.

Awards under the EIP can take the form of:

• 

• 

Conditional Awards - under which the participant receives 
shares for free automatically to the extent the award vests 
(which may be subject to the achievement of performance 
conditions);
Forfeitable Shares - under which the participant receives 
free shares on grant, which must be given back to the extent 
the award lapses;

•  Options - under which the participant can acquire shares, to 

the extent their award has vested, either at no cost or at a 
price set when the option is granted.

Inclusion of other award types is to provide for sufficient flexibility in 
the future should the Group’s remuneration approach change during 
the life of the Plan. Awards may also be granted as cash awards.

An award may be granted on the basis that it will normally only 
vest to the extent that a performance condition, set by the Rio 
Tinto Remuneration Committee at the time of grant, is satisfied 
by Rio Tinto. However, awards representing deferred bonuses 
will not be subject to performance conditions. The vesting of 
awards granted to executive directors (other than bonus deferred  
awards) will always be subject to a performance condition, except 
as otherwise permitted by Rio Tinto’s Remuneration Policy.

Conditional awards and nil-cost options will be granted on the 
basis that the participant will receive dividend equivalents for 
the vesting period (in additional shares or cash) when, and to 
the extent that, the award vests or is exercised. The dividend 
equivalent will be calculated based on the aggregate value of 
dividends paid during the vesting period unless the Rio Tinto 
Remuneration Committee decides to use a different approach.

Awards will normally vest, to the extent that any performance 
condition is met, at the end of a period set when the award is 
granted or the end of the period over which any performance 
condition is tested. Shares will be issued or transferred to the 
participant (or an option may be exercised) from vesting. Vesting 
may be delayed where a participant is subject to any external 
investigation or similar circumstances.

An award may be granted on the basis that the participant is 
required to hold a net number of vested shares (or shares subject 
to an option) for a set period following vesting.

If Rio Tinto was subject to a change of control, awards will vest 
subject to the extent to which any performance condition has 
been satisfied. Alternatively, participants may be allowed or 
required to exchange their awards for equivalent awards over 
shares in the acquiring company. If awards vest, the awards 
will be pro-rated unless the Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee 
decides otherwise. However, pro rating will not apply to deferred 
bonus awards or, normally, where an award subject to a 
performance condition vests on or after the third anniversary of 
grant.

Awards
The current intention is that awards will be made under the EIP 
in the form of Conditional Awards to replicate awards previously 
made under the PSP, MSP and BDP and in line with the Rio Tinto 
Group’s Remuneration Policy.

Performance Share Awards
Performance share awards (PSA), which broadly replicate 
awards made under the PSP, provide a conditional right to 
Rio Tinto shares to eligible senior management personnel within 
the Rio Tinto Group, including the Chief Executive and senior 
executives of ERA.  Award levels under the EIP are at the 
discretion of Rio Tinto.

The conditional awards only vest if the performance condition 
set by the Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee is satisfied by 
Rio Tinto, although the Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee 
retains discretion to satisfy itself that satisfaction of the 
performance condition is a genuine reflection of the underlying 
performance of the business. Prior to the vesting of conditional 

2828

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

awards, Rio Tinto’s Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance 
against the performance condition is calculated independently by 
Willis Towers Watson.

Equal or greater to 2nd 
ranked company

Subject to Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee approval, awards 
vest based on the Rio Tinto Group’s TSR performance against 
the Morgan Stanley Capital World Index (one half) and the 
EMIX Global Mining Index (one half), relative to global mining 
comparators. This is reviewed at 31 December of the fifth year of 
the grant. The level of vesting depends on performance against the 
indices.

Management Share Awards
Management share awards (MSA), which broadly replicate awards 
made under the MSP, are conditional grants of Rio Tinto shares to 
eligible employees of the company which will vest, wholly or partly, 
upon expiry of a three year vesting period. Rio Tinto shares to 
satisfy the vesting are purchased by Rio Tinto in the market. Award 
levels under the EIP are at the discretion of Rio Tinto.

Other Share Plans
All employees of the Company may participate in Rio Tinto share 
purchase plans applicable at particular locations. Under the plan, 
employees may acquire shares up to the value of US$5,000 
(or local currency equivalent) per year capped at 10 per cent 
of their base salary. Each share purchased will be matched by 
the Company (currently at a ratio of one for one) providing the 
participant holds the shares and remains employed at the end of 
the three year vesting period. Further details are at Note 30 to the 
Financial Statements.

Chief Executive’s long term incentive plan
In 2016 the Remuneration Committee determined that the ERA 
LTIP would be discontinued. Awards were made in 2014 and 2015 
to the Chief Executive at the time (Ms Sutton) who was the only 
executive to participate in this plan.

The ERA LTIP was an award of rights that have a value calculated 
by reference to the Company’s share price (i.e. phantom shares). 
Whether or not the rights vest depended on the extent to which 
the relevant performance conditions had been satisfied over the 
performance period. Awards had a three year performance period 
commencing on 1 January of the year of grant. 

The two performance conditions were a relative TSR condition and 
the achievement of ERA strategic measures. Each condition was 
assessed independently.  Strategic performance conditions were 
chosen to ensure that the long term incentive award was assessed 
against both the Company’s relative performance against other 
uranium producers and the achievement of ERA strategic 
measures. 

For the TSR performance condition, rights vested based on ERA’s 
TSR performance against Areva SA, Cameco Corp, Denison 
Mines Corp, Energy Fuels Inc, Fission Uranium Corp, Paladin 
Energy Limited, Summit Resources Limited, Uranium Energy 
Corp and Ur-Energy Inc over the performance period. Vesting was 
subject to ERA’s ranked position using the following schedule:

Between the 5th and 2nd 
ranked companies

Above the 6th ranked 
company

100 per cent of the rights 
subject to the TSR condition 
vest

Between 22.5 per cent and 
100 per cent of the rights 
subject to the TSR condition 
vest, on a pro rata basis

22.5 per cent of the rights 
subject to the TSR condition 
vest

Equal to the 6th ranked 
company or below

Nil vesting

For the ERA strategic measures, an assessment of the 
level of vesting applicable to this portion of the award was 
assessed by the Remuneration Committee, with the final 
outcome recommended to the Board by the Chairman at 
the end of the three year performance period. The elements 
considered in respect of ERA strategic measures included a 
financial performance, organisational and personnel related 
performance, relations with stakeholders and progress in 
respect of the Ranger 3 Deeps underground mine project. For 
outstanding performance, the Board could determine to permit 
a number of rights to vest that is equal to 150 per cent of the 
initial number of rights awarded that were subject to the ERA 
strategic measures condition.

The Remuneration Committee had discretion to give 
consideration to significant circumstances which may have 
changed the strategic measures over the performance period. 
Upon vesting, the value of the ERA LTIP award were converted 
into Rio Tinto MSA shares. The number of Rio Tinto MSA 
shares awarded were calculated based on the five day average 
Rio Tinto Limited share price prior to the Rio Tinto MSA grant 
date in March of the year of vesting. Any Rio Tinto MSA shares 
provided vested after a further two year period. There were no 
further performance conditions, however, the Rio Tinto MSA 
shares could be forfeited in certain circumstances related to 
cessation of employment. 

Share dealing policy
The participation of the Chief Executive and senior executives 
in the Rio Tinto share plans involving the awarding of Rio Tinto 
securities at a future date, and any grants of shares and 
options under these plans, is subject to and conditional upon 
compliance with the terms of the ‘Rules for dealing in securities 
of Rio Tinto’ (Dealing Rules). The Dealing Rules for dealing 
expressly prohibit the limiting of exposure to economic risk in 
relation to such securities, and are available on the Rio Tinto 
website at www.riotinto.com.

2929

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Details of remuneration

D 
Details of the remuneration of each non-executive and executive Director and each of the senior executives in respect of their 
services to the Company are set out in the following table.

Non-executive Directors of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd

SHORT TERM BENEFITS

POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

DIRECTORS 
FEES 
($000)

CASH
BONUS 
($000)

NON- CASH 
BENEFITS
($000)

SUPER- 
ANNUATION
($000)

TOTAL
($000)

P Mansell

S Charles

P Dowd

Z Fisher1

A Sutton 1,2

K McLeish1,3

S Kaufman 1,4

S Trott 1,5

Total 2018

Total 2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2018

2018

2017

2017

205

202

132

128

130

128

109

107

16

35

45

8

85

672

658

-

 -

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

20

19

12

12

12

12

-

-

-

-

-

-

44

43

225

221

144

140

142

140

109

107

16

35

45

8

85

716

701

Note 1 
Note 2 
Note 3 
Note 4 
Note 5 

Amounts paid directly to Rio Tinto Limited. 
Resigned as a Director 2 August 2017 and appointed as a Director 30 October 2018. Amounts paid for services as Chief Executive in 2017 not reflected.
Appointed as a Director 19 June 2018 and resigned as a Director 30 October 2018. 
Appointed as a Director 29 November 2017 and resigned as a Director 19 June 2018.
Resigned as a Director 28 November 2017.

3030

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Executive Director and senior executives
Set out below is an overview of the remuneration paid to the 
Executive Director and senior executives in 2018. This includes 
details of the key elements of remuneration and a summary of 
total remuneration for 2018.

Paul Arnold 
(Chief Executive and Managing Director from 2 August 
2017)
Base salary
Mr Arnold was appointed as Chief Executive and Managing 
Director on 2 August 2017. Mr Arnold’s base salary was reviewed 
annually with reference to the underlying performance of ERA 
and the Rio Tinto Group, global economic conditions, role 
responsibility, individual performance, an assessment against 
relevant comparator groups, internal relativities and base salary 
budgets applying to the broader employee population. 

On 1 March 2018, Mr Arnold’s base salary was $378,000  
(2 August 2017 $370,000).

STIP objectives
The STIP cash payment made to Mr Arnold in 2018 was 
determined by assessing individual and business performance in 
2017 against objectives set for that year.

The following individual objectives were set for Mr Arnold for 
2017:

• 

• 

• 

safe and predictable operations with particular emphasis on 
process safety, asset integrity, productivity, output, quality, 
costs and cash flow;
effective implementation of strategies for water 
management, other environmental controls and progressive 
rehabilitation, including stable and consistent operation of 
Brine Concentrator; and
effective leadership behaviours in interaction with 
employees, the Board and stakeholders including Traditional 
Owners, regulators, investors and the community.

STIP outcomes
Mr Arnold’s achievement against his 2017 individual objectives 
was assessed as ‘good’. Detailed outcomes are below:

• 

• 

• 
• 
• 

• 

an increase in the All Injury Frequency Rate to 1.17 (2016; 
0.19);
production of 2,294 tonnes of uranium oxide was  
in line with market guidance: sales volume of 2,089 tonnes 
of uranium oxide;
Ranger rehabilitation program progressed to schedule;
strong cash management focus of cash reserves;
optimised availability and throughput of the Brine 
Concentrator, including injection of brine into Pit 3 backfill; 
and
continued progress with key stakeholders on closure criteria 
for Ranger Project Area and associated infrastructure.

LTIP awards granted
Award levels are set so as to incentivise executives to provide 
sufficient retention for the executive team and to contribute 
to the competitiveness of the overall remuneration package. 
The value of the MSAs and PSAs granted to Mr Arnold in 
2018, based on the expected value calculations performed 
by individual advisors, was 45 per cent of base salary. The 
eventual amount that vests will depend on performance during 
the period 2018 to 2022.

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Total remuneration
The table below provides a summary of Mr Arnold’s total remuneration disclosed for the years of 2017 and 2018. The purpose of 
this table is to enable shareholders to better understand the actual remuneration received and to provide an overview of the actual 
outcomes of the Company’s remuneration arrangements. The remuneration details set out on page 35 include theoretical accounting 
values relating to various parts of the remuneration packages, most notably long term incentive plan arrangements. Accordingly, the 
numbers below are not compatible with those in the table on page 35.

(STATED IN $’000)

Base salary paid1

STIP cash bonus2

STIP deferred shares3

LTIP share based payments

Superannuation

Other benefits4

Total remuneration 

% change from previous year5

% of maximum STIP cash bonus awarded

% of maximum STIP cash bonus forfeited

2018

377

170

85

135

30

164

961

-

69

31

2017

154

-

-

43

10

127

334

-

-

-

Note 1 
Note 2 
Note 3 
Note 4 
Note 5  

Salary paid in 2017 financial year from 2 August 2017 to 31 December 2017. Salaries are reviewed with effect from 1 March. 
Bonus payment relates to prior year performance.   
Value of deferred share awards granted under the EIP.  
Other benefits include accommodation, vehicle and other allowances and Company paid superannuation above statutory requirements that is taken as cash.  
Change between year is non-comparable due to salary paid for part year in 2017. 

Andrea Sutton 
(Chief Executive and Managing Director to 2 August 2017)
ERA LTIP outcome for period ended 31 December 2018
The 2015 ERA LTIP award of 93,691 phantom shares granted to Ms Sutton on 1 May 2015 had a performance period which ended on 
31 December 2017. The two performance conditions are a relative TSR condition and the achievement of ERA strategic measures. 
The Company engaged Ernst & Young to calculate the outcomes against the TSR component. Ernst & Young determined that, as 
ERA’s TSR ranking was 6th, no awards vested under this component.

The relevant strategic measures were principally focussed on the development of the Ranger 3 Deeps ore body and were not 
updated following the decision to defer the project in June 2015. The Remuneration Committee considered Ms Sutton’s ability to 
achieve the strategic measures had been impacted by factors that were beyond her control and was of the view that Ms Sutton has 
performed well during the performance period in respect of the matters that were within her control.

The Committee recommended that 120 per cent of the strategic measures component would vest and this recommendation was 
accepted by the Board.

As a result of this assessment, the Board approved the vesting of 56,214 phantom shares. The value of these shares was calculated 
based on the average closing price of ERA shares over the five working days prior to the normal Rio Tinto LTIP award grant date 
of 9 March 2018. The total value based on this average share price of $0.652 was therefore $36,652. This value was subsequently 
converted to 482 Rio Tinto MSA shares based on the average Rio Tinto Limited share price over the same period of $75.97.

3232

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Senior executives
Base salary
Base salaries are reviewed annually, with reference to the underlying performance of ERA, the Rio Tinto Group and the individual, 
global economic conditions, role responsibility, an assessment against relevant comparator groups and base salary budgets applying 
to the broader employee population.

At the end of 2017 and 2018, the base salaries of the Company’s senior executives were:

BASE SALARY A’$000 (UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)

2018

2017

 CHANGE

David Blanch1

Lesley Bryce

Alan Tietzel

James May 2

240

288

366

256

-

270

359

247

n/a

7%

2%

4%

Note 1 
Note 2 

Employment with ERA commenced on 2 July 2018.
Employment with ERA ceased on 6 July 2018. Salary is reflected at time of resignation.

STIP objectives and outcomes
The individual objectives set out below relate to the 2017 financial year (with the corresponding STIP Award paid in 2018).

David Blanch

•  Mr Blanch joined ERA in July 2018, and as such no STIP payment was made in 2018 for 

SUMMARY OF INDIVIDUAL OBJECTIVES

Lesley Bryce

Alan Tietzel

James May

services to ERA

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 

Prevention of high consequence safety and environmental events
Demonstrate Health, Safety and Environment leadership and contribute to sustained 
improvement in health and safety performance
Achieve target metrics for production and cost, plant utilisation, availability and recovery
Delivery of the planned dredging, tailings deposition in Pit 3, brines injection and bulk material 
movements
Establish key operating parameters and deliverables to meet the objectives of the Ranger 
Closure Plan
Demonstrate behaviours that align with the values of accountability, teamwork, integrity and 
respect

Prevention of high consequence safety and environmental events
Demonstrate Health, Safety and Environment leadership and contribute to sustained 
improvement in health and safety performance
Continue effective implementation of stakeholder engagement strategy
Design, plan and deliver stakeholder initiatives which progress the Company’s direction on 
Ranger closure planning and the future of Jabiru
Demonstrate behaviours that align with the values of accountability, teamwork, integrity and 
Respect

Prevention of high consequence safety and environmental events
Demonstrate Health, Safety and Environment leadership and contribute to sustained 
improvement in health and safety performance
Lead the program management for cash generation and cost improvement across ERA
Deliver efficient and effective commercial support services to ERA, including IT and 
procurement
Deliver excellence in accounting, performance reporting and financial forecasting
Lead ERA’s sales and logistics planning, maximizing the value of ERA’s marketing 
arrangements
Demonstrate behaviours that align with the values of accountability, teamwork, integrity and 
respect

3333

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

A summary of the individual targets and performance for each of the Company’s senior executives (other than the Chief Executive) for 
the 2017 financial year (with the corresponding STIP Award paid in 2018) is set out in the table below. 

MEASURES

Lesley Bryce

Business and financial performance

Health and Safety

Individual

Total

Alan Tietzel

Business and financial performance

Health and Safety

Individual

Total

James May

Business and financial performance

Health and Safety

Individual

Total

WEIGHT (%)

RESULT 
(OUT OF 
200%)

WEIGHTED 
RESULT (%)

25.0

15.0

60.0

100.0

25.0

15.0

60.0

100.0

25.0

15.0

60.0

100.0

173.0

89.0

115.0

-

173.0

89.0

105.0

-

173.0

89.0

145.0

-

43.3

13.3

69.0

125.6

43.3

13.3

63.0

119.6

43.3

13.3

87.0

143.6

LTIP awards
Award levels are set so as to incentivise executives to provide sufficient retention for the executive team and to contribute to the 
competitiveness of the overall remuneration package. The value of the awards granted to the Company’s senior executives  
(other than the Chief Executive) in 2018, based on the fair value calculations performed by independent advisors, was between  
22.5 per cent and 30 per cent of base salary.  

3434

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Executive Director and senior executives total remuneration

SHORT TERM BENEFITS 

CASH 
SALARY
($000)

CASH
BONUS8
($000)

OTHER9
($000)

TERMINATION 
PAYMENTS 
($000)

POST 
EMPLOYMENT 
BENEFITS

SHARE 
BASED 
PAYMENTS

SUPER-
ANNUATION
PENSION
($000)

CASH & 
EQUITY 
SETTLED
($000)

Executive Director

P Arnold1

A Sutton2

Senior executives

D Blanch3

L Bryce4

A Tietzel5

J May6

T Eckersley7

Total 2018

Total 2017

2018

2017

2017

2018

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2017

377

154

237

120

283

173

365

359

136

246

32

1,281

1,201

170

-

207

-

102

-

129

128

89

85

-

490

420

164

127

87

90

128

67

102

97

47

75

7

531

460

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

30

10

21

35

30

16

30

32

57

59

10

182

148

135

43

108

15

53

23

119

114

31

55

5

353

348

TOTAL
($000)

876

334

660

260

596

279

745

730

360

520

54

2,837

2,577

Note 1 
Note 2 
Note 3 
Note 4 
Note 5 
Note 6 

Note 7 
Note 8 
Note 9 

Performance related cash bonus: 69 per cent awarded in 2018, 31 per cent forfeited. No cash bonus paid in respect to services rendered to ERA during 2017. 
Salary paid in 2017 financial year from 1 January 2017 to 2 August 2017. Performance related cash bonus: 69 per cent awarded in 2017, 31 per cent forfeited. 
Salary paid in 2018 financial year from 2 July 2018 to 31 December 2018. No cash bonus was paid in respect to services rendered to ERA during the year.
Performance related cash bonus: 63 per cent awarded in 2018, 37 per cent forfeited. No cash bonus paid in respect to services rendered to ERA during 2017.
Performance related cash bonus: 61 per cent awarded in 2018, 39 per cent forfeited. 60 per cent awarded in 2017, 40 per cent forfeited. 
Salary paid in financial year from 1 January 2018 to 1 June 2018.  Performance related cash bonus: 74 per cent awarded in 2018, 26 per cent forfeited.  
71 per cent awarded in 2017, 29 per cent forfeited. 
Salary paid in financial year from 1 January 2017 to 1 February 2017. No cash bonus was paid in respect to services rendered to ERA during the year. 
Performance and related bonuses paid in 2018 relate to services in 2017 (equally bonuses paid in 2017 relate to services in 2016). 
 Other benefits include relocation, accommodation, travel, vehicle, other allowances, Company paid superannuation above statutory requirement that is taken as 
cash excluding cash paid site allowances which are treated as cash salary.

The value of share based awards has been determined in accordance with the recognition and measurement requirements of AASB2 
“Share-based Payment”. The fair value of awards granted under the Rio Tinto 2018 Equity Incentive Plan, the Rio Tinto Management 
Share Plan (MSP), Bonus Deferral Plan (BDP), Performance Share Plan (PSP) and myShare has been calculated at their dates of 
grant using valuation models provided by external consultants Lane Clark and Peacock LLP, including an independent lattice-based 
option valuation model and a Monte Carlo valuation model which takes into account the constraints on vesting and exercise attached 
to these awards.

The fair value of awards granted under the ERA Long Term Incentive Plan (ERA LTIP) to the former Chief Executive (Ms Sutton) have 
been calculated at their date of grant using a valuation model provided by external consultant Ernst & Young.

3535

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
DIRECTOR's REPORT

Executive service agreements

E 
Remuneration and other terms of employment for the Chief Executive and senior executives are formalised in service agreements. 
These agreements provide for participation in the Rio Tinto short and long term incentive plans upon achieving performance and 
service goals. The agreements may also provide for other benefits, including: medical insurance, vehicle and accommodation 
allowances, relocation allowances and expenses and travel allowances.

The Chief Executive and senior executives are also entitled to a range of pre-existing redundancy entitlements, depending on the 
business and region from where they were originally employed within the Rio Tinto Group. These include:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

notice may be worked or fully or partly paid in lieu, at ERA’s discretion;
additional capped service related payments may apply;
pro rata short term incentive plan payments may be paid based on the proportion of the performance period worked;
conditional share awards granted and held for less than three years at the date of termination are reduced pro-rata;
conditional share awards held for less than three years at date of termination are reduced pro-rata;
there is no contractual entitlement to payments in the event of a change of control; and
other major provisions of the agreements relating to remuneration as set out below.

P Arnold - Chief Executive 
Term of agreement - Open, commenced 2 August 2017
Base salary (excluding superannuation, allowances and other benefits) as at 31 December 2018 of $378,000 per annum. Maximum 
short term incentive bonus upon meeting performance criteria is 100 per cent of base salary. Base salary and short term incentive 
targets are to be reviewed annually. Termination by the employee is three months’ notice in writing or by the employer giving six 
months’ notice or equivalent payment in lieu of notice. 

In addition to Mr Arnold’s service agreement, ERA has entered into a secondment agreement with Rio Tinto in relation to Mr Arnold’s 
services to ERA. The secondment agreement provides that ERA can end Mr Arnold’s secondment by giving Rio Tinto six months’ 
notice at any time. Rio Tinto can end Mr Arnold’s secondment by giving six months’ notice to ERA.

L Bryce - General Manager Operations
Term of agreement - Open, commenced 1 June 2017
Base salary (excluding superannuation, allowances and other benefits) as at 31 December 2018 of $288,000 per annum. Maximum 
short term incentive bonus upon meeting performance criteria is 60 per cent of base salary. Base salary and short term incentive 
targets to be reviewed annually. Termination by the employee is three months’ notice in writing or by the employer giving six months’ 
notice orequivalent payment in lieu of notice.

D Blanch - Chief Financial Officer
Term of agreement - Open, commenced 2 July 2018
Base salary (excluding superannuation, allowances and other benefits) as at 2 July 2018 of $240,000 per annum. Maximum short 
term incentive bonus upon meeting performance criteria is 50 per cent of base salary. Base salary and short term incentive targets to 
be reviewed annually. Termination by the employee is three months’ notice in writing or by the employer giving six months’ notice or 
equivalent payment in lieu of notice.

A Tietzel - Chief Advisor Agreements
Term of agreement - Open, commenced 1 October 2010
Base salary (excluding superannuation, allowances and other benefits) as at 31 December 2018 of $365,941 per annum. Maximum 
term incentive bonus upon meeting performance criteria is 60 per cent of base salary. Base salary and short term incentive targets to 
be reviewed annually. Termination by the employee is three months’ notice in writing or by the employer giving six months’ notice or 
equivalent payment in lieu of notice

J May - Chief Financial Officer
Term of agreement - Closed, commenced 5 May 2014 and resigned 6 July 2018
Base salary (excluding superannuation, allowances and other benefits) as at 6 July 2018 of $255,820 per annum. Maximum short 
term incentive bonus upon meeting performance criteria is 50 per cent of base salary. Base salary and short term incentive targets to 
be reviewed annually. Termination by the employee is three months’ notice in writing or by the employer giving six months’ notice or 
equivalent payment in lieu of notice.

3636

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

F 

Share based compensation 

Rio Tinto Share Option Plan 
In 2013 the Rio Tinto Share Option Plan was discontinued. Details of the costs of the share based payment plans applied by the 
Company are provided at Note 30 of the Financial Statements.

The terms and conditions of each grant of options affecting remuneration in this or future reporting periods are as follows:

EXERCISE 
PRICE  
(PRE RIGHTS 
ISSUE)

EXERCISE 
PRICE  
(POST RIGHTS 
ISSUE)

VALUE PER 
OPTION AT 
GRANT DATE

VALUE PER 
OPTION  
POST RIGHTS 
ISSUE

EXPIRY 
DATE

EARLIEST 
EXERCISE  
DATE

GRANT DATE

Rio Tinto Limited 

17/03/2009

17/03/2019

49.56

33.45

13.36

13.36

17/03/2012

Rio Tinto Performance Share Awards 
Rio Tinto Performance Share Awards (PSA) under the Rio Tinto 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (EIP) are granted at the discretion of the 
Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee in line with Rio Tinto guidelines. 100 per cent potentially vest after five years. PSAs have been 
granted under either the previous Rio Tinto Performance Share Plan or, for awards granted from 2018, granted under the EIP. The 
terms and conditions of each right to Rio Tinto Limited or Rio Tinto plc shares affecting remuneration in this or future reporting periods 
are as follows:

AWARD DATE

Rio Tinto Limited 

11 March 2016

9 March 2017

15 May 2018

MARKET PRICE AT AWARD

PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
ENDS1

MARKET PRICE AT  
31 DECEMBER 2018

$44.57

$58.97

$83.61

31 December 2020

31 December 2021

31 December 2022

$78.47

$78.47

$78.47

Note 1 

Vesting dependent upon continued employment with a Rio Tinto Group company and achievement of relevant performance conditions.

Rio Tinto Management Share Awards
Rio Tinto Management Share Awards (MSA) under the EIP are granted at the discretion of the Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee in 
line with Rio Tinto guidelines. MSAs have been granted under either the previous Rio Tinto Management Share Plan or, for awards 
granted from 2018, granted under the EIP. The terms and conditions of each right to Rio Tinto Limited or Rio Tinto plc shares affecting 
remuneration in this or future reporting periods are as follows:

AWARD DATE

Rio Tinto Limited 

11 March 2016

9 March 2017

15 May 2018

MARKET PRICE  
AT AWARD

PERFORMANCE PERIOD 
ENDS1

PRICE AT  
31 DECEMBER 2018

$44.57

$58.97

$83.61

18 February 2019

18 February 2020

15 February 2021

$78.47

$78.47

$78.47

Note 1  

Vesting dependent upon continued employment with a Rio Tinto Group company.

3737

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Rio Tinto Bonus Deferral Awards
Rio Tinto Bonus Deferral Awards (BDA) under the EIP are granted at the discretion of the Rio Tinto Remuneration Committee in line 
with Rio Tinto guidelines. BDAs have been granted under either the previous Rio Tinto Bonus Deferral Plan or, for awards granted 
from 2018, under the EIP. The terms and conditions of each right to Rio Tinto Limited shares affecting remuneration in this or future 
reporting periods are as follows:

AWARD DATE

Rio Tinto Limited 

11 March 2016

9 March 2017

15 May 2018

MARKET PRICE AT AWARD

VESTING DATE1

PRICE AT  
31 DECEMBER 2018

$44.57

$58.97

$83.61

1 December 2018

1 December 2019

1 December 2020

$78.47

$78.47

$78.47

Note 1 

Vesting dependent upon continued employment with a Rio Tinto Group company.

Share based compensation – Rio Tinto employee share schemes
The key management personnel and Directors of the Company who elected to participate in the Rio Tinto myShare share purchase 
plan as at 31 December 2018 are set out below: 

P Arnold

D Blanch

L Bryce

Z Fisher

A Tietzel

Rio Tinto myShare

Rio Tinto myShare

Rio Tinto myShare

Rio Tinto myShare

Rio Tinto myShare

Equity instrument disclosures relating to key management personnel 
Options provided as remuneration
Details of options over ordinary shares in Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc held during the year and provided as remuneration to key 
management personnel in respect of their service to ERA (or, in the case of non-executive Directors, to Rio Tinto) are set out below. 
When exercisable, each option is convertible into one ordinary share of Rio Tinto Limited or Rio Tinto plc.

BALANCE AT  
START OF  
THE YEAR OR  
ON JOINING1

BALANCE AT END  
OF THE YEAR3

GRANTED 
AS REMUN-
ERATION

EXERCISED 
DURING THE 
YEAR

OTHER 
CHANGES2

VESTED & 
EXER- 
CISABLE

UNVESTED

Rio Tinto Limited

Executive Director

A Sutton

2017

1,158

Non-executive Directors4

A Sutton

2018

1,158

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,158

1,158

-

-

Note 1 
Note 2 

Note 3 
Note 4 

Where key management personnel joined during the year, balance at start of the year reflects holdings at time of commencement with ERA.
Other changes and end of year balance include changes made in relation to awards for service within the wider Rio Tinto Group, including before joining or after 
ceasing with ERA, and forfeited options where conditions were not met. 
Where key management personnel left prior to the end of the year, the balance reflects the holding at the time of resignation.
Changes to balances for non-executive Directors do not relate to remuneration for services provided to the Company. 

3838

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Conditional awards provided as remuneration
Rio Tinto 2018 Equity Incentive Plan
No conditional awards of ordinary shares of either ERA or of Rio Tinto Limited or Rio Tinto plc were provided during the year as 
remuneration for services provided to ERA to any of the non-executive Directors. Details of conditional awards of ordinary shares in 
Rio Tinto Limited and Rio Tinto plc held during the year and provided as remuneration to the Chief Executive and senior executives of 
ERA in respect of their duties as officers of ERA are set out below. When exercisable, each award converts into one ordinary share of 
Rio Tinto Limited or Rio Tinto plc.  

BALANCE  
AT START OF THE 
YEAR OR ON JOINING1

GRANTED AS 
REMUN- 
ERATION VESTED LAPSED

AWARDS 
CANCELLED

OTHER 
CHANGES2

BALANCE 
AT END 
OF YEAR3

Rio Tinto Limited

Executive Director

P Arnold

A Sutton

Senior executives

L Bryce

D Blanch

A Tietzel

J May

T Eckersley

Non-executive Directors4

A Sutton

K McLeish

Z Fisher

S Kaufman

S Trott

Note 1 
Note 2 

Note 3 
Note 4 

2018

2017

2017

2018

2017

2018

2018

2017

2018

2017

2017

2018

2018

2018

2017

2018

2017

2017

5,754

5,771

12,870

1,880

1,880

1,533

6,325

6,247

3,643

3,164

5,650

21,019

25,397

11,268

6,631

23,603

23,603

35,832

4,877

(1,794)

-

-

7,749

(2,349)

1,318

(588)

-

-

-

-

1,865

(2,181)

2,400

(2,110)

966

(1,043)

1,199

(653)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,660)

-

(1,627)

(1,103)

(1,621)

-

(4,450)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(17)

(671)

-

-

-

(143)

(212)

(45)

(67)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

8,837

5,754

17,599

2,610

1,880

1,533

5,866

6,325

3,521

3,643

5,650

156

19,515

-

25,397

4,474

5,740

14,115

11,268

15,618

37,600

-

23,603

12,253

43,635

Where key management personnel joined during the year, balance at start of the year reflects holdings at time of commencement with ERA.
Other changes and end of year balance include changes made in relation to awards for service within the wider Rio Tinto Group, including before joining or after 
ceasing with ERA, and Rio Tinto Rights Issue adjustments to accrued balances. 
When key management personnel left prior to the end of the year, the balance reflects holdings at the date of resignation.
Changes to balances for non-executive Directors do not relate to remuneration for services provided to ERA.

ERA Long Term Incentive Plan
In addition to the conditional awards set out above, Ms Sutton was awarded a cumulative total of 223,528 rights (31 December 2017 
balance: 223,528 rights) that had a value calculated by reference to the Company’s share price (i.e. phantom shares). These awards  
had a three year performance period and, upon vesting, were converted into Rio Tinto MSA shares based on the five day average  
Rio Tinto Limited share price prior to the Rio Tinto MSA grant date in March of the year of vesting. Any Rio Tinto MSA shares provided 
vested after a further two year period. In 2016, the Remuneration Committee determined that the ERA LTIP would be discontinued. 
Accordingly, no further awards will be made under the program. Further details of the ERA LTIP are available on page 29.

3939

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Shareholdings 
The number of shares held in ERA or Rio Tinto Limited during the financial year by each Director of ERA are set out below.

Rio Tinto Limited

P Mansell

P Arnold

A Sutton

P Dowd

Z Fisher

S Kaufman

K McLeish

S Trott

BALANCE  
AT START OF  
THE YEAR1

INCREASED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

OTHER CHANGES 
DURING THE  
THE YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF  
THE YEAR2

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2,000

2,000

704

658

9,937

3,885

1,744

1,744

4,162

2,877

2,944

2,944

6,019

5,409

-

-

2,009

46

1,600

2,401

-

-

1,832

1,285

1,721

-

56

4,170

-

-

-

-

(1,600)

-

(244)

-

(2,286)

-

-

-

-

(4,513)

2,000

2,000

2,713

704

9,937

6,286

1,500

1,744

3,708

4,162

4,665

2,944

6,075

5,066

Note 1 
Note 2 

Where a Director was appointed during the year, balance reflects holdings at the time of commencement with the Company. 
Where a Director resigned during the year, balance reflects holdings at time of resignation as a Director of the Company.

G 

Additional information

Loans and other transactions with Directors and other key management personnel
There are no loans with Directors and other key management personnel. Other transactions with Director related entities are 
disclosed in Note 24 – Related parties.

4040

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's REPORT

Principal activities
The principal activities of the Company during the course of the year 
consisted of the mining, processing and sale of uranium oxide.

Dividends
No dividends have been paid by ERA to members in respect of 
the 2018 financial year (2017: nil).

Operating and financial review
Details of ERA’s review and results of operations are included in 
the Chairman’s Report on page 2, the Chief Executive’s Report 
on page 3, the Financial Performance and Operations and 
Rehabilitation sections on pages 5 and 6 respectively.

Significant changes to the state of affairs
The attached annual report for the year ended 31 December 
2018 contains an independent auditor’s report which highlights 
the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant 
doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern. For further information, refer to Notes 1 and 28 to the 
financial statements, together with the auditors report.

In the opinion of the Directors, other than matters reported in the 
Directors’ Report, the Chairman’s Report and the Chief Executive’s 
Report, there were no significant changes in the state of affairs of 
the Company during the year ended 31 December 2018.

Matters subsequent to the end of the financial 
year
There has not arisen in the interval between the end of the year 
and the date of this report any item, transaction or event of a 
material nature that has significantly affected or may significantly 
affect:

• 
• 
• 

the operations of the Company; 
the results of those operations; or
the state of affairs of the Company subsequent to the 
financial year ended 31 December 2018. 

Likely developments
In the opinion of the Directors, any likely developments in the 
operations of the Company known at the date of this report have 
been covered within the Annual Report and Notes to the financial 
statements.

A general review of developments for ERA is presented in the 
Operations and Rehabilitation section on page 6.

Annual General Meeting
The 2019 Annual General Meeting will be held on 10 April 2019 in 
Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia. Notices of the 2019 
Annual General Meeting will be set out in separate letters to the 
shareholders of the Company. 

Indemnification
Clause 11 of the Company’s constitution provides that every 
Director, manager, officer or employee of the Company shall be 
indemnified out of the funds of the Company against all liability 
incurred by them in defending any proceedings in which they are 
successful. 

The Corporations Act 2001 prohibits a company from 
indemnifying Directors, secretaries, executive officers and 
auditors from liability except for liability to a party, other than the 
Company or a related body corporate, where the liability does not 
arise out of conduct involving a lack of good faith and except for 
liability for costs and expenses incurred in defending proceedings 
in which the officer or auditor is successful. An indemnity for 
officers or employees who are not Directors, secretaries or 
executive officers, is not expressly prohibited by the Corporations 
Act 2001.

The Directors and Company Secretary of the Company, and all 
former Directors and Company Secretaries, have the benefit of 
the indemnity in Clause 11 of the Company’s constitution.

The indemnity also applies to executive officers of the Company 
(being the senior executives and managers who are concerned 
with, or take part in the management of the Company) as well as 
other employees.

Insurance
Since the end of the previous financial year, the Company has 
paid insurance premiums in respect of a Directors’ and officers’ 
liability policy of insurance.

The policy indemnifies all Directors and officers of ERA (including 
the Directors, Company Secretaries, and executive officers 
referred to above) against certain liabilities.

In accordance with common commercial practice, the insurance 
policy prohibits disclosure of the nature of the liability insured 
against and the amount of the premium.

Environmental regulation and policy
ERA strives to be at the forefront of environmental management 
in the uranium industry. It operates in accordance with relevant 
Commonwealth and Northern Territory environmental legislation 
as well as site specific environmental licences, permits and 
statutory authorisations. ERA’s environmental management 
system is ISO14001 compliant.

ERA is required to report any incident that is a divergence from 
strict compliance with statutory requirements, even if the incident 
has no detrimental environmental impact, and reports are made 
to the Department of Primary Industry and Resources (Northern 
Territory); the Supervising Scientist Branch of the Commonwealth 
Department of Environment; the Northern Land Council; the 
Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation and Science 
and the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (representatives of 
the Mirarr Traditional Owners).

ERA’s commitment to protect the environment in 2018 was 
overseen by the Supervising Scientist Branch, which conducts 
extensive monitoring and research programs on the Ranger 
Project Area and Jabiluka Mineral Lease. 

There were no prosecutions commenced or fines incurred in 
respect of ERA’s environmental performance during 2018.       
The environment remained protected throughout the period.

4141

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD Directors have satisfied themselves that the provision of non-
audit services by the auditor does not compromise the auditor 
independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001.

During the year, the following fees were paid or payable for 
services provided by the auditor of the Company, its related 
practices and non-audit related firms.

AUDIT SERVICES

PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia

Audit and review of financial reports 

Audit and review of financial reports

(additional prior year fees)

Total remuneration for audit  
services

Taxation services

Audit related services

Total Remuneration

2018 
$000

2017 
$000

290

-

10

300

-

-

245

86

331

-

-

300

331

Information on Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers continues in office in accordance with 
Section 327 of the Corporations Act 2001.

A copy of the auditor’s independence declaration as required 
under section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 is set out on 
page 43.

Signed at Perth this 15 February 2019 in accordance with a 
resolution of the Directors.

P Mansell
Director
Perth
15 February 2019

DIRECTOR's REPORT

Corporate governance

The Board of ERA considers high standards of corporate 
governance to be critical to business integrity and performance. 
The corporate governance structures and practices in place 
at ERA are substantially in compliance with the 3rd Edition of 
the Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations 
developed by the ASX Corporate Governance Council (Council).

Areas where the corporate governance practices of ERA do not 
follow the Council’s recommendations arise due to Rio Tinto’s 
68.4 per cent ownership of the Company and the management 
direction, services and support this provides. The extent to 
which the Company does not comply is detailed in the Corporate 
Governance Statement on pages 44 to 49.

Rounding of amounts
The Company is of a kind referred to in ASIC Class Order 
2016/191 and in accordance with that Class Order amounts 
in the financial statements and Directors’ Report have been 
rounded to the nearest thousand dollars, unless otherwise 
indicated.

Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers is the auditor of the Company. No 
person who was an officer of the Company during the year was a 
former partner or director of the auditor. Each of the Directors at 
the time this report was approved has confirmed that so far as he 
or she is aware, there is no relevant audit.

• 

• 

information (ie information needed by the auditor in 
connection with preparing its report) of which the auditor is 
unaware and; 
he or she has taken all steps that they ought to have taken 
as a Director in order to make himself or herself aware 
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
auditor is aware of that information.

Non audit services
The Company may decide to employ the auditor on assignments 
additional to its statutory audit duties where the auditor’s 
expertise and experience with the Company are important.

Details of the amounts paid or payable to the auditor for audit 
services are set out below.

The Board of Directors has considered the position and, in 
accordance with the advice received from the Audit and Risk 
Committee, is satisfied that the provision of non-audit services 
is compatible with the general standard of independence for the 
auditor imposed by the Corporations Act 2001. 

All non-audit services are reviewed by the Audit and Risk 
Committee to ensure they do not impact on the impartiality 
and objectivity of the auditor and do not undermine the general 
principles relating to auditor’s independence as set out in 
Professional Statement F1, including reviewing or auditing the 
auditor’s own work, acting in a management or decision making 
capacity for the Company, acting as advocate for the Company 
or jointly sharing economic risks and rewards. Accordingly, the 

4242

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD AUDITOR's INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION

Auditor’s Independence Declaration 
As lead auditor for the audit of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd for the year ended 31 December 
2018, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been:  

(a) 

no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in 
relation to the audit; and 

(b) 

no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit. 

Charles Christie 
Partner
PricewaterhouseCoopers 

Melbourne
15 February 2019

PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABN 52 780 433 757
2 Riverside Quay, SOUTHBANK  VIC  3006, GPO Box 1331, MELBOURNE  VIC  3001 
T: 61 3 8603 1000, F: 61 3 8603 1999, www.pwc.com.au 

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. 

4343

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE sTATEMENT

The Board of ERA considers high standards of corporate 
governance to be critical to business integrity and performance 
and to maximise the overall long term return to shareholders. 
The Board seeks to ensure that ERA meets the objectives of 
its shareholders, while paying proper regard to the interests of 
employees and external stakeholders. 

The corporate governance structures and practices in place 
at ERA are substantially in compliance with the 3rd Edition of 
the Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations 
(Principles) developed by the ASX Corporate Governance 
Council (Council).

The Board has considered the Council’s Principles, and ERA 
did not comply with the following recommendation for the whole 
of the reporting period: 

• 

Recommendation 2.4 – there was not a majority of 
independent Directors.

• 

for Decision or Consideration by the Board; and
approval, subject to the Constitution, the Corporations Act 
2001 and the ASX Listing Rules, of each of the following:

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 
(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 
(vii) 

(viii) 

the issue of new shares or other securities in  
the Company;
incurring of debt (other than trade creditors  
incurred in the normal course of business);
capital expenditure in excess of $5,000,000;
the acquisition, divestment or establishment of  
any significant business assets;
changes to the discretions delegated from the  
Board;
the annual operating budget plan; 
changes to the capital and operating approval  
limits of senior management; and
the annual report and interim and preliminary  
final reports.

As explained further below, the Board considers that this is 
appropriate. 

The Board Charter is available at the Corporate Governance 
section of ERA’s website.

This Corporate Governance Statement is current as at  
15 February 2019 and has been approved by the Board of ERA.

Board responsibilities and charter
In carrying out its responsibilities and powers, the Board at all 
times recognises its overriding responsibility to act honestly, 
fairly, diligently and in accordance with the law in serving the 
interests of the ERA’s shareholders and employees and the 
community.

Composition
Throughout 2018, the Board of ERA consisted of six Directors, 
five of whom were non-executive.

Mr Mansell, Mr Charles and Mr Dowd all served as independent 
non-executive Directors throughout 2018. Ms Fisher, Ms 
Kaufman and Ms Sutton, who are current executives of Rio Tinto,  
and Mr McLeish, a former executive of Rio Tinto, also served as 
non-executive Directors during the period. 

The Board Charter underpins the strategic guidance and 
effective management oversight provided by the Board, and 
defines the division of responsibility between Board and 
management by formal delegation and a system of Board 
reserve powers. 

On 19 June 2018, Ms Kaufman resigned as a Director. 

Mr McLeish was appointed as a Director on 19 June 2018 and 
resigned on 30 October 2018.

On 30 October 2018, Ms Sutton was appointed as a Director.

Other than as specifically reserved to the Board in the Board 
Charter, responsibility for the management of ERA’s business 
is delegated to the Chief Executive who is accountable to the 
Board.

The Board approves strategy and business plans and monitors 
the performance of ERA against these plans. The Board also 
monitors compliance with policies prescribed by the Board in 
areas such as health and safety, environment, business ethics, 
internal control and risk management. These policies are 
designed to ensure that ERA meets or exceeds the regulatory 
requirements governing its operations. 

In addition to the matters expressly required by law to be 
approved by the Board, the powers specifically reserved for the 
Board are as follows:

confirming the appointment and removal of a Chief 
Executive proposed by Rio Tinto and the terms and 
conditions of the Chief Executive’s employment;
appointment and removal of a Company Secretary;
appointment of the Chairman of the Board and members of 
Board Committees;
any matters set out in the Schedule of Matters Reserved 

• 

• 
• 

• 

4444

Skills, experience and diversity
The Board strives to achieve a diversity of skills, experience and 
perspective among its Directors. Details of the Directors, their 
experience, qualifications and other appointments are set out 
on pages 20 to 22. Details of the independent status of each 
Director are outlined in the Independence section below.

Qualification for Board membership is driven by the principle that 
the Board’s composition should reflect the right balance of skills, 
knowledge and diversity that the Board considers will best serve 
the interests of ERA and all of its shareholders. 

The Board reviews its structure, size and composition regularly.  
The Board has not established a Nominations Committee.  The 
Board considers that its existing practices in reviewing Director 
competencies, Board succession planning, Board performance 
evaluation and Director selection and nomination carried out 
in accordance with the Board Charter, are satisfactory and 
appropriate given the size of the Board and ERA’s current 
ownership structure.

The process to identify and nominate new independent Directors 
from time to time is led by the incumbent independent Directors.  
Decisions relating to the appointment of Directors are made by 

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE sTATEMENT

the full Board.  Directors appointed by the Board are required 
by ERA’s Constitution to submit themselves for re-election by 
shareholders at the Annual General Meeting following their 
appointment.  There is no share ownership qualification for 
appointment as a Director.

The ERA Board undertakes appropriate background checks and 
screening prior to appointing a Director or putting a candidate 
to security holders for election as a Director.  ERA provides 
security holders with all material information in its possession 
concerning each Director standing for election or re-election in 
the explanatory notes accompanying the notice of meeting.

Non-executive Directors are required to retire at least every 
three years in accordance with ERA’s Constitution, but may offer 
themselves for re-election. The key attributes that the Board 
seeks to achieve in its membership are set out below. 

Mining

Health, Safety 
and Environment

Financial

Technical

Strategy

Governance

Executive 
leadership

Government 
relations

Senior executive experience in the 
resources industry, including mining, 
development, marketing and exploration

Familiarity with issues associated with 
workplace health and safety, environment 
and social responsibility

Proficiency in financial accounting and 
reporting, corporate finance, internal 
financial controls, corporate funding and 
associated risks

A strong understanding in technical 
areas of the resource industry, including 
engineering, mining and processing

Proven ability in developing and 
implementing successful business 
strategies, including the capacity to 
probe and challenge management on the 
delivery of strategic objectives

Commitment to the highest standards of 
governance, including Board experience 
with other ASX listed companies that 
demonstrate rigorous governance 
standards

Sustainable success in business at a 
very senior executive level

Interaction with government and 
regulators and involvement in public 
policy initiatives and decisions

Community 
and indigenous 
engagement

Experience in engaging with a cross-
section of community and Indigenous 
stakeholders

Risk 
management

Experience in developing and 
establishing risk management 
frameworks, setting risk appetite and 
overseeing organisational risk culture

Appointment, induction training and professional 
development
All new non-executive Directors sign a letter of appointment 
which sets out the key terms and conditions of their appointment 
including duties, rights and responsibilities, the time commitment 
envisaged and the Board’s expectations regarding their 
involvement with committee work. The Chief Executive and 
senior executives enter into service agreements which govern 
the terms of their employment (see page 36).

Induction training is provided to all new Directors. It includes 
comprehensive induction materials, discussions with the Chief 
Executive and senior executives and the option to visit the 
Company’s operations at Ranger mine, either by appointment or 
with the Board during its next site tour. The induction materials 
and discussions include information on the Company’s strategy, 
culture and values, key corporate and Board policies, the 
Company’s financial, operational and risk management position, 
the rights and responsibilities of Directors, the role of the Board 
and its committees and meeting arrangements.

All Directors are expected to maintain the skills required to 
discharge their obligations to the Company. ERA provides 
the opportunity for Directors to participate in professional 
development activities to develop and maintain the skills and 
knowledge needed to perform their role as Directors effectively.

Independence
For the purposes of determining Director independence, the 
Board considers any material business relationship which 
could interfere, or be perceived to interfere, with the Director’s 
independence of judgement, ability to provide a strong, valuable 
contribution to the Board’s deliberations and the Director’s ability 
to act in the best interests of ERA and all shareholders. Where 
contracts in the ordinary course of business exist between ERA 
and a company in which a Director has declared an interest, 
these are reviewed for materiality to both ERA and the other 
party to the contract. 

In addition to the examples set out in the Principles, the following 
may be taken into account in considering such material business 
relationships:

• 

• 

• 

• 

whether, within the last three years, the Director or a 
close family member has been a member of executive 
management of ERA, employed in a senior position with a 
member of the Rio Tinto Group or has received additional 
remuneration from the Company or a member of the 
Rio Tinto Group;
whether the Director or a close family member is, or is 
associated with, a substantial shareholder (more than 
five per cent of the voting shares) in the Company or in a 
member of the Rio Tinto Group;
the Director’s cross directorships of, or significant links with, 
or involvement in, other companies; 
the Director’s length of service on the Board and whether 
this may have compromised independence; and

4545

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE sTATEMENT

• 

whether, within the last three years, the Director or a close 
family member has had, either directly or indirectly and 
whether as principal, employee or consultant, a material 
business relationship with ERA or with a member of the 
Rio Tinto Group, whether as an auditor, professional adviser, 
supplier, or customer (“material” being more than five per 
cent of ERA’s or the counterparty’s consolidated gross 
revenue per annum).

Mr Mansell, Mr Charles and Mr Dowd are considered by the 
Board to be independent Directors.

For the reporting period, the Board of Directors did not consist 
of a majority of independent Directors. This does not follow 
Recommendation 2.4 of the Council’s Principles. The Board 
considered it was appropriate that the composition of the Board 
recognised Rio Tinto’s 68.4 per cent shareholding. 

All Directors are required to, and do, bring an independent 
judgement to bear on Board decisions and act in accordance with 
their statutory duties of good faith and for a proper purpose, and 
in the interests of all shareholders. 

All related party transactions, including those with Rio Tinto, have 
been determined by the independent Directors to be on arm’s 
length terms and in the interests of ERA. 

Chairman and Chief Executive
The Chairman, Mr Mansell, is an independent non-executive 
Director. Mr Mansell’s other appointments are set out  
on page 20. The Board considers that none of his other 
commitments interfere with the discharge of his duties to ERA. 

The Chief Executive is Mr Arnold, who is also a Director. 

Company Secretary
The Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that Board 
procedures are complied with and that governance matters are 
addressed. All Directors have direct access to the Company 
Secretary who is accountable directly to the Board, through the 
Chairman, on all matters to do with the proper functioning of 
the Board. Details of the Company Secretary’s experience and 
qualifications are set out on page 24. 

Board meetings
The Board held six scheduled meetings and one extraordinary 
meeting during 2018. In addition, there were 9 meetings held in 
2018 of Committees established by the Board. The Board and 
Committee meeting attendance details for Directors in 2018 are 
set out on page 25.

Performance self assessment
The Board has a process for periodically evaluating its 
performance, as well as the performance of its committees 
and individual Directors. The evaluation and self-assessment 
generally takes the form of an internal process facilitated by 
the Chairman. After consulting each Director and the Company 
Secretary, the Chairman reports a summary of the findings to 
all Directors for discussion at the next Board meeting where 
relevant actions are agreed. Periodically the Board may utilise 
the services of an external consultant to facilitate the process. 

The external process takes the form of a questionnaire 
completed by each of the Directors and the Company Secretary. 
Following collation by the consultant, the results, adequacy and 
appropriateness of the self-assessment process are compiled. 
A report outlining the results is circulated to all Directors and 
discussed at the following Board meeting where actions arising 
are agreed.

The last formal performance evaluation was carried out in 2014 
and facilitated by an external consultant. A formal evaluation 
was not carried out in the period. Chairman obtained informal 
feedback from the Directors on the performance of the Board 
and its committees in 2018, with a view to undertaking a formal 
evaluation in 2019.

Independent professional advice

The Board has adopted a procedure for Directors wishing to seek 
independent professional advice, at the Company’s expense, in 
the furtherance of their duties. The Board recognises that there 
may be circumstances in which individual Directors are entitled 
to independent professional advice at the Company’s expense 
in the furtherance of their duties, and any Director may do so by 
arrangement with the Company Secretary.

Remuneration
ERA’s Constitution provides that the aggregate remuneration 
paid to non-executive Directors of ERA in any one year will not 
exceed $800,000 or such other amount as may be approved 
by shareholders from time to time. At the 2018 Annual General 
Meeting, the 2017 Remuneration Report was approved with 
90.09 per cent of shares voted in favour (voting comprised 
355,663,697 votes ‘for’ the resolution and 39,119,746 votes 
‘against’ the resolution). North Limited and Peko-Wallsend Pty 
Ltd, which are both Rio Tinto entities, voted a combined total of 
354,078,854 votes ‘for’ the resolution.

In 2012, the Board established a Remuneration Committee. 
Throughout 2018, the Remuneration Committee comprised three 
non-executive Directors, being Mr Mansell (Chair), Mr Dowd and 
Mr Charles, all of whom are independent. A majority of members 
constitutes a quorum for a meeting. The Chief Executive may 
be invited to attend Remuneration Committee meetings. Other 
executives may also be invited to discuss or report on particular 
agenda items. 

The Remuneration Committee Charter sets out the role and 
objectives of the Remuneration Committee. A summary of the 
objectives of the Remuneration Committee and the policies and 
practices of the Company regarding the remuneration of non-
executive Directors, the Chief Executive and senior executives is 
set out on pages 26 to 29 of the Remuneration Report.  

The complete Remuneration Committee Charter is available at 
the Corporate Governance section of ERA’s website at  
www.energyres.com.au.

Details of how the performance evaluation process is undertaken 
by the Board in respect of the Chief Executive and senior 
executives are set out on pages 26 to 29 of the Remuneration 
Report.

4646

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE sTATEMENT

Audit and Risk Committee
The Audit and Risk Committee is appointed by the Board and 
throughout 2018 comprised three non-executive Directors, all 
of whom are independent. A majority of members constitutes a 
quorum. The present members of the Audit and Risk Committee 
are Mr Charles (Chair), Mr Mansell and Mr Dowd. The 
Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Chief Executive and Legal 
Counsel & Company Secretary, the external auditor and the 
internal auditor are invited to attend all meetings. 

The Audit and Risk Committee Charter sets out the role and 
terms of reference of the Audit and Risk Committee and is 
reviewed regularly. The Audit and Risk Committee Charter is 
available at the Corporate Governance section of ERA’s website.

The Committee provides a formal structure for reviewing ERA’s 
financial statements, accounting policies, control systems, risk 
management practices and taxation issues and for liaison with 
the external and internal auditors. The Committee also reviews 
the adequacy of internal and external audit arrangements.

The Audit and Risk Committee advises the Board of any matters 
that might have a significant impact on the financial condition 
of ERA and has the authority to investigate any matters within 
its terms of reference, having full access to the information and 
resources of ERA to fulfil its function. Related party transactions 
are considered by the Audit and Risk Committee. The Audit and 
Risk Committee reviews compliance with the Corporations Act 
2001, and the requirements of the ASX and other regulatory 
requirements.

The Audit and Risk Committee held three scheduled meetings 
during 2018. Attendance details of the 2018 meetings of the Audit 
and Risk Committee, and the qualifications and experience of the 
members, are set out in the Directors’ Report on pages 25 and 
20 to 22.

Each year the external auditor submits a schedule of audit 
services and fee estimate to the Audit and Risk Committee 
for consideration and approval. PricewaterhouseCoopers has 
been ERA’s external auditor for a number of years. Each year, 
the Audit and Risk Committee reviews the effectiveness of the 
external audit process and the independence of the auditor. 
Based on its 2018 review, the Audit and Risk Committee was 
satisfied with the external audit process and that the external 
auditor remained independent. Any work to be conducted by the 
external auditor other than the audit is approved by the Audit and 
Risk Committee.

Details of the fees paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers during 2018 
are outlined on page 42. 

Health, Safety and Environment Committee
The Health, Safety and Environment Committee is appointed by 
the Board and ordinarily comprises three non-executive Directors. 
A majority of members constitutes a quorum. Throughout 2018, 
the members of the Health, Safety and Environment Committee 
were Mr Dowd (Chair), Mr Charles and Ms Fisher. The 
Company’s Chief Executive, General Manager Operations and 
Company Secretary are invited to attend all meetings.

The Health, Safety and Environment Committee Charter sets out 
the role and objectives of the Health, Safety and Environment 
Committee and is reviewed regularly. It is available at the 
Corporate Governance section of ERA’s website.

The Committee provides a formal structure to further support 
governance and initiatives for improvement in health, safety and 
the environmental management of ERA operations.

The Health, Safety and Environment Committee held three 
scheduled meetings during 2018. Attendance details of the 2018 
meetings of the Health, Safety and Environment Committee, and 
the qualifications and experience of the members, are set out in 
the Directors’ Report on pages 25 and 20 to 22 respectively.

Diversity 
ERA acknowledges the benefits that flow from advancing Board 
and employee diversity, in particular gender and Indigenous 
diversity. These benefits include identification and rectification 
of gaps in the skills and experience of Directors and employees, 
enhanced employee retention, greater innovation and 
maximisation of available talent to achieve corporate goals and 
increased financial performance.

Diversity, in the context of the Company, primarily refers to 
groups which are underrepresented in its workforce. ERA has a 
particular focus on the representation of women and Indigenous 
people in its workforce. ERA’s policy on diversity can be found 
on the Company’s website at www.energyres.com.au. In 
accordance with the Company’s diversity policy, ERA has set 
measurable objectives to achieve diversity. 

The objectives and the Company’s progress in achieving each 
objective are set out below:

OBJECTIVE

OUTCOME

Women to represent 20 per 
cent of the management 
(being manager level and 
above) and the Board by end 
of 2018.

Target of 33 per cent 
Indigenous people and  
25 per cent female 
participation in new 
apprenticeships by end  
of 2018.

As at 31 December 2018 
female participation at manager, 
Executive Committee and 
Board level is 37 per cent. 
Women comprise 33 per cent 
of Directors. Total female 
participation is 18 per cent.

Throughout 2018, ERA had 4  
full time apprentices, 3 of whom 
are female (75 per cent).
In addition, ERA had two school 
based apprentices and four 
Indigenous trainees.

Target Indigenous 
employment of 20 per cent  
by the end of 2018.

ERA ended 2018 with an 
Indigenous employment rate of 
13 per cent.

4747

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE sTATEMENT

As at 31 December 2018, the proportion of women employed by 
ERA was as follows:

Board of Directors

Executive Committee and 
managers

Company

33% 

36%

18%

Code of business conduct 
ERA has a Code of Business Conduct to be met by all employees 
and Directors. All employees are required to maintain high 
standards of ethical behaviour in the execution of their duties and 
comply with all applicable laws and regulations in Australia and in 
every other country in which the Company engages in business.

The Code of Business Conduct is reviewed to ensure it 
adequately addresses the issues facing the Company and is 
available for inspection on the Corporate Governance section of 
the Company’s website at www.energyres.com.au.

In addition to the Company’s Code of Business Conduct, the 
Company’s employees are required to comply with Rio Tinto’s 
statement of business practice The Way We Work, available at 
Rio Tinto’s website at www.riotinto.com.

The Company has a confidential whistleblower program known 
as Speak-Out ‘Talk to Peggy’. Employees are encouraged to 
report any suspicion of unethical or illegal practices.

Purchase and sale of Company securities 
ERA has in place a formal policy that reinforces to all Directors, 
officers and employees the prohibitions against insider trading. 
The Share Trading Policy is available for inspection at the 
Corporate Governance section of the Company’s website at 
www.energyres.com.au. 

In addition, the “Rules for dealing in securities of Rio Tinto” 
(Dealing Rules) apply to the participation of ERA executives in 
the Rio Tinto long term incentive plans involving the awarding 
of Rio Tinto securities at a future date.  Any such grants of 
shares and options under the Rio Tinto plans are subject to, 
and conditional upon, compliance with the terms of the Dealing 
Rules, including an express prohibition on hedging or limiting of 
exposure to economic risk in relation to such securities.

Under the ERA Share Trading Policy:

• 

• 

Directors, senior executives and senior managers must 
advise the Chairman in writing, and receive approval in 
writing from the Chairman, if they intend to purchase or 
sell ERA securities. In regard to his own dealings, the 
Chairman is required to notify the Chair of the Audit and Risk 
Committee.
No dealings in ERA securities may take place for the period 
from the end of any relevant financial period to the trading 
day following announcement of ERA’s annual results or half 
year results.

Particulars of the interests held by Directors are outlined on  
page 25 of the Remuneration Report.

Risk identification and management 
ERA has in place a range of policies and procedures to manage 
the risks associated with its operating activities. These policies 
and procedures have been adopted by the Board, with primary 
oversight by the Audit and Risk Committee, to ensure that potential 
business risks are identified and appropriate action taken. 

The Company has an annual internal audit program that is 
determined by the Audit and Risk Committee. The annual internal 
audit program is executed by an outsourced provider which 
reports back to the Audit and Risk Committee on its assessment 
of the Company’s control environment. In addition, the Company’s 
compliance officer provides support for internal audit planning 
activities and the monitoring of actions implemented by the 
Company in response to findings raised by the internal auditor.

ERA benefits from the Rio Tinto Group’s knowledge, policies 
and practices on risk management and corporate assurance, 
developed to manage Rio Tinto’s diverse business activities 
covering a variety of commodities and operational locations. 
Together, these make up a comprehensive framework and 
approach to risk analysis and risk management. 

The Board has in place a number of systems to identify and 
manage business risks. These include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

the identification and review of all of the business risks 
known to be facing the Company;
the provision of reports and information by management to 
the Board, on a periodic basis, confirming the status and 
effectiveness of the plans, controls, policies and procedures 
implemented to manage business risks;
guidelines for ensuring that capital expenditure and revenue 
commitments exceeding certain approved limits are placed 
before the Board for approval;
limits and controls for all financial exposures, including the 
use of derivatives;
a regulatory compliance program; and
safety, health and environmental policies which are 
supported by a set of standards and management systems 
which recognise the Company’s commitment to achieving 
high standards of performance in all its activities in these 
areas.

The Audit and Risk Committee reviews ERA’s risk management 
framework at least annually, and did so in 2018, to satisfy itself 
that it continues to be sound.

The Audit and Risk Committee and the Board has assessed the 
strategic risks to the Company’s business and the mitigation 
strategies to be implemented by management. The strategic 
risks identified through this assessment were future operating 
cash flow and financial resources, stakeholder support of the 
Company’s strategic initiatives, rehabilitation of the Ranger 
Project Area, internal constraints relating to the Company’s 
licence to operate, external events relating to the Company’s 
licence to operate and retention and recruitment of key 
personnel.

4848

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE sTATEMENT

These strategic risks are in addition to risks inherent to the 
mining industry generally which include economic conditions 
(fluctuations in commodity pricing and exchange rates), 
international regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and impact 
of climatic conditions. More information on ERA’s business risks, 
including any material exposure to economic, environmental and 
social sustainability risks, is set out on pages 10 and 11 of the 
Annual Report.

ERA believes that investor seminars, presentations and briefings 
on financial and operational issues, including social and 
environmental performance, are valuable ways of communicating 
with relevant professionals, employees and other interested 
persons. The Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer 
conduct meetings with the Company’s major investors, and the 
Company provides investor briefings to coincide with the release 
of half year and full year financial results.

Each reporting period, the Chief Executive and the Chief 
Financial Officer give statements to the Board that, in their 
opinion, the financial records of the Company have been properly 
maintained and that the financial statements comply with the 
Australian Accounting Standards and give a true and fair view 
of the Company’s financial position and performance. The 
statements also provide that the opinion has been formed on the 
basis of a sound system of risk management and internal control 
which is operating effectively in all material respects. 

ERA gives equal access to information disclosed in investor 
seminars, presentations and briefings. If any such event is used 
to disclose new material, it will, in advance or simultaneously, be 
disclosed to the ASX and available on ERA’s website.

ERA provides shareholders with the option to receive 
communications from, and send communications to, the 
Company and the share registrar electronically. The contact 
details are available on the Company’s website.

Public statements and disclosure matters
ERA makes full and immediate disclosures to its shareholders 
and the market as required by, and in accordance with, its legal 
and regulatory obligations. Established systems are in place 
to ensure compliance and matters that may have a material 
impact on the price or value of ERA’s securities are reported to 
the market in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules and the 
Corporations Act 2001. ERA’s Continuous Disclosure Policy 
is available at the Corporation Governance section of ERA’s 
website at www.energyres.com.au.

Shareholder communication
ERA recognises the importance of effective communication with 
shareholders and the general investment community. Apart from 
ERA’s compliance with its mandatory continuous disclosure 
obligations, ERA takes steps to ensure that its shareholders 
and other stakeholders are kept informed. Full advantage is 
taken of the Annual General Meeting to inform shareholders of 
current developments and to give shareholders the opportunity 
to ask questions. PricewaterhouseCoopers, ERA’s external 
auditor attends the Annual General Meeting and is available to 
answer shareholder questions about the conduct of the audit 
and the preparation and content of the auditor’s report. ERA 
shareholders are also able to submit written questions regarding 
the statutory audit report to the auditor via the Company. Any 
questions received and answers provided will be made available 
to members at the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders who 
are unable to attend meetings are encouraged to appoint a proxy 
to vote either as they direct or at their discretion.

4949

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD sTATEMENT OF COMPREHENsIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Revenue from continuing operations

Changes in inventories

Materials and consumables used

Employee benefits and contractor expenses

Government and other royalties

Commission and shipping expenses

Depreciation and amortisation expenses

Non-cash impairment charge

Changes in estimate of rehabilitaton provision

Financing costs

Statutory and corporate expenses

Other expenses

Profit/(loss) before income tax

Income tax (expense)/benefit

Profit/(loss) for the year

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Profit/(loss) is attributable to:

Owners of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd

Total comprehensive income for the year is attributable to:

Owners of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd

Earnings per share for profit/(loss) attributable to the  
ordinary equity holders of the Company:

Basic earnings per share (cents)

Diluted earnings per share (cents)

NOTES

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

3

4

12

17

4

4

5

215,612

240,471

30,799

(22,193)

(79,877)

(71,130)

(109,953)

(111,824)

(10,724)

(11,215)

(3,453)

(4,890)

-

(113,776)

(343,199)

(22,539)

(14,205)

(5,008)

-

-

(21,135)

(22,072)

(11,046)

(8,498)

(456,323)

(43,532)

21,049

-

(435,274)

(43,532)

-

-

(435,274)

(43,532)

(435,274)

(43,532)

(435,274)

(43,532)

27

27

(84.1)

(84.1)

(8.4)

(8.4)

The above statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 

5050

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD BALANCE sHEET

AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Inventories

Other

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Inventories

Undeveloped properties

Property, plant and equipment

Investment in trust fund

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Payables

Income received in advance

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

EQUITY

Contributed equity

Reserves

Accumulated losses

Total equity

The above balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

NOTES

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

20

313,736

395,477

10,519

8,903

115,352

115,926

1,484

473

441,091

520,779

30,104

89,856

-

74,715

194,675

635,766

37,877

34,561

102,233

174,671

-

203,632

-

72,901

276,533

797,312

36,777

45,981

80,930

163,688

741,885

457,688

-

741,885

916,556

(280,790)

21,049

478,737

642,425

154,887

706,485

388,897

706,485

389,300

(1,376,172)

(940,898)

(280,790)

154,887

5151

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD sTATEMENT OF CHANGEs IN EQUITy

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Balance at 1 January 2017

Profit/(loss) for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:

Employee share options – value of employee services

20

Balance at 31 December 2017

Profit/(loss) for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners:

Employee share options – value of employee services

20

CONTRIBUTED 
EQUITY 
$’000

RESERVES 
$’000

RETAINED 
EARNINGS
$’000

NOTES

TOTAL
$’000

706,485

389,440

(897,366)

198,559

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(43,532)

(43,532)

-

-

(43,532)

(43,532)

(140)

(140)

-

-

(140)

(140)

706,485

389,300

(940,898)

154,887

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(435,274)

(435,274)

-

-

(435,274)

(435,274)

(403)

(403)

-

-

(403)

(403)

Balance at 31 December 2018

706,485

388,897

(1,376,172)

(280,790)

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

5252

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD CAsH FLOw sTATEMENT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Receipts from customers 

(inclusive of Goods and Services Tax)

Payments to suppliers and employees 

(inclusive of Goods and Services Tax)

Payments for exploration and evaluation

Payments for rehabilitation

Interest received

Financing costs paid

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Payments for property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Employee share option payments

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

NOTES

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

215,290

259,070

(239,089)

(229,563)

(23,799)

29,507

-

-

(58,946)

(27,025)

8,479

(2,070)

26

(76,336)

(4,334)

-

(4,334)

(1,068)

(1,068)

(81,738)

395,477

(3)

7,281

(1,925)

7,838

(7,295)

169

(7,126)

(837)

(837)

(125)

395,598

4

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

7

313,736

395,477

The above cash flow statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

5353

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD    
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

1 

Summary of significant  
accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation 
of these financial statements are set out below. These policies 
have been consistently applied to all the years presented, 
unless otherwise stated. The financial statements are for Energy 
Resources of Australia Ltd (ERA).

(a)  Basis of preparation
This general purpose financial report has been prepared 
in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and 
interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards 
Board, and the Corporations Act 2001.

(i) Going Concern
As at 31 December 2018, ERA has a deficiency of capital and 
reserves of $281 million, it has also experienced operating losses 
and negative cash flows during the financial year ending on that 
date.  

The continuing viability of ERA and its ability to continue as a going 
concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due are 
dependent upon it being successful in obtaining additional funding 
support from its shareholders. Rio Tinto has advised ERA that it 
will work with ERA and its other shareholders and stakeholders 
with the objective of ensuring that ERA is in a position to meet 
in full the likely future rehabilitation requirements of the Ranger 
Project Area. Further details are provided in note 28.

As a result of these matters, there is a material uncertainty that 
may cast significant doubt on ERA’s ability to continue as a going 
concern and, therefore, that it may be unable to realise its assets 
and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business.

However, the directors believe that ERA will be successful in 
the above matters and, accordingly, have prepared the financial 
report on a going concern basis.  

(ii) Compliance with IFRS 
The financial statements of the Company also comply with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by 
the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). 

(iii) Historical cost convention
These financial statements have been prepared under the 
historical cost convention.

(iv) Critical accounting estimates
The presentation of financial statements requires the use of 
certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management 
to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the 
accounting policies of the Company. The areas involving a higher 
degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions 
and estimates are significant to the financial statements, are 
disclosed in Note 2.

(b)  Principles of consolidation
(i) Subsidiaries
ERA has no subsidiaries and is referred to in the financial report 
as the Company or ERA. 

5454

Subsidiaries are all those entities (including special purpose 
entities) over which the Company has the power to govern 
the financial and operating policies, generally accompanying 
a shareholding of more than one half of the voting rights. The 
existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently 
exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing 
whether the Company controls another entity.

(c) Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration 
received or receivable. Amounts disclosed as revenue are net 
of returns, trade allowances, rebates and amounts collected on 
behalf of third parties.

The Company recognises revenue when the amount of revenue 
can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic 
benefits will flow to the entity and specific criteria have been met 
for the Company’s activities as described below. The amount 
of revenue is not considered to be reliably measurable until all 
contingencies relating to the sale have been resolved. 

The Company bases its estimates on historical results, taking into 
consideration the type of customer, the type of transaction and 
the specifics of each arrangement.

(i) Sale of goods
Sales are brought to account when the products pass from the 
physical control of the Company pursuant to an enforceable 
contract, when selling prices are known or can be reasonably 
estimated and when the products are in a form that requires no 
further treatment by the Company.

In the case where a sale occurs and immediately after which 
(part of) the goods are borrowed back by the Company under a 
separate agreement, the revenue is deferred until repayment of 
the borrowed goods occurs.

Under the marketing agreement with Rio Tinto Uranium, 
payment for uranium oxide is connected to the date the material 
is shipped. Once cash is received, it is treated as unearned 
revenue until the sale occurs and ownership transfers.

Additional details are presented in Note 1 (y) (ii).

(ii) Rendering of services
Revenue from the rendering of services is recognised when the 
service is provided.

(iii) Other revenue/income
Other revenue/income recognised by the Company includes:

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 

interest income, which is recognised on a time proportion 
basis using the effective interest rate method; 
rental income, which is recognised on a straight line basis;
net gains on disposal of assets, which is recognised at the 
date control of the asset passes to the acquirer;
contract compensation, which is recognised upon 
cancellation of a sales contract;
foreign exchange gains; and
insurance recoveries, which is recognised on confirmation 
from the insurer that the claim payment has been approved.

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

(d) Foreign currency translation
(i) Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements are measured using 
the currency of the primary economic environment in which the 
entity operates (the functional currency). The financial statements 
are presented in Australian dollars, which is the Company’s 
functional and presentation currency.

(ii) Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional 
currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of 
the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting 
from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation 
at year end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the 
statement of comprehensive income, except when they are 
deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges and qualifying 
net investment hedges or are attributable to part of the net 
investment in a foreign operation. 

(e) Financing costs
Financing costs (including interest) are included in the statement 
of comprehensive income in the period during which they are 
incurred, except where they are included in the cost of non-
current assets that are currently being developed and will take 
a substantial period of time to complete. The borrowing costs 
included in the cost of such developments are those costs that 
would have been avoided if the expenditure on the development 
had not been made.

Once the asset is ready for use, the capitalised borrowing costs are 
depreciated as a part of the carrying amount of the related asset.

The capitalisation rate used to determine the amount of borrowing 
costs to be capitalised is the weighted average interest rate 
applicable to the Company’s outstanding borrowings during the year.

(f) Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present 
legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, it is 
probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle 
the obligation and the amount has been reliably estimated. 
Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses.

Provisions are measured at the present value of management’s best 
estimate of the expenditure, adjusted for risk, required to settle the 
present obligation at the balance sheet date. The discount rate used 
to determine the present value reflects current market assessments 
of the time value of money. The increase in the provision due to the 
passage of time is recognised as interest expense.

(i) Rehabilitation
The Company is required to rehabilitate the Ranger Project Area 
upon cessation of mining operations. The costs are estimated 
on the basis of a closure model, taking into consideration the 
technical closure options available to meet the Company’s 
obligations and applying a probability weighting to each option 
based on the likelihood of executing each option. When it is 
deemed only one option is available it is assigned a 100 per cent 
probability. The cost estimates are calculated annually during 

the life of the operation to reflect known developments, and are 
subject to regular reviews.

The amortisation or unwinding of the discount applied in 
establishing the net present value of provisions is charged to the 
statement of comprehensive income in each accounting period. 
The amortisation of the discount is shown as a financing cost. 
Other movements in the provision for closure and restoration 
costs, including those resulting from new disturbance, updated 
cost estimates, changes to lives of operations and revisions to 
discount rates are capitalised within fixed assets, unless the assets 
that they relate to are fully written down or impaired in which case 
the movement in the provision is allocated directly to the statement 
of comprehensive income. These costs are then depreciated on a 
unit of production basis over the life of the reserves.

Where rehabilitation is conducted systematically over the life 
of the operation, rather than at the time of closure, provision is 
made for the outstanding continuous rehabilitation work at each 
balance date. All costs of continuous rehabilitation work are 
charged to the provision as incurred. 

Costs are allowed for in the closure provision when they are 
directly related to rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area. Costs 
incurred to operate and manage the site whilst uranium oxide 
production is occurring are allocated to operating costs and 
so excluded from the rehabilitation provision. The operation of 
the brine concentrator and pond water management are costs 
that are allocated to operating costs up until such time as the 
production of uranium oxide ceases (forecast to be January 
2021), they are then included in the closure provision from this 
time. Following cessation of uranium oxide production all costs 
associated with the Ranger Project Area are included in the 
closure provision, cost associated with other corporate activities 
will remain in operating costs and so are not provided for. 

Separately, the Company is required to maintain with the 
Commonwealth Government the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust 
Fund (Trust Fund), to provide security against the estimated 
costs of closing and rehabilitating the mine immediately (rather 
than upon the planned cessation of mining operations). Each 
year, the Company is required to prepare and submit to the 
Commonwealth Government an Annual Plan of Rehabilitation. 
Once accepted by the Commonwealth Government, the annual 
plan is then independently assessed and costed and the amount 
to be provided by the Company in the Trust Fund, is then 
determined. The Trust Fund includes both cash and financial 
guarantees. The cash portion is shown as an investment on the 
balance sheet (Note 14), and interest received by the Trust Fund 
is shown as interest income. 

The Company is required to rehabilitate the Jabiluka Mineral 
Lease upon cessation of operations to a standard specified by 
the Authorisation to operate issued by the Northern Territory 
Government. The estimated cost of rehabilitation is currently 
secured by a bank guarantee and fully provided for in the 
financial statements. 

(g) Income tax
Income tax expense for the period is the tax payable on the 
current period’s taxable income based on the applicable income 

5555

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

tax rate adjusted by temporary differences between the tax bases 
of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial 
statements, and to unused tax losses.

Inventory is valued using the weighted average cost method and 
includes both fixed and variable production costs as well as cash 
and non-cash charges. 

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of 
the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the 
reporting period in the country where the Company generates 
taxable income (Australia).

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, 
on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of 
assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial 
statements. However, the deferred income tax is not accounted 
for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a 
transaction other than a business combination that at the time 
of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit 
or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates 
(and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by 
the reporting date and are expected to apply when the related 
deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax 
liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for deductible temporary 
differences and unused tax losses only if it is probable that future 
taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary 
differences and losses.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a 
legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities 
and when the deferred tax balances relate to the same taxation 
authority. Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where 
the entity has a legally enforceable right to offset and intends 
either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle 
the liability simultaneously.

Current and deferred tax balances attributable to amounts 
recognised directly in equity are also recognised directly in equity.

(h) Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are recognised at fair value through the profit 
and loss.

Trade receivables are normally settled within 45 days and are 
carried at the fair value of the amounts due. The collectability of 
trade receivables is reviewed on an ongoing basis and fair value 
adjusted for any doubtful amounts. Receivables which are known 
to be uncollectible are written off.

Other receivables relate to transactions outside the usual 
operating activities of the Company and are predominantly 
concerned with rental receipts from employees and businesses 
located within the Jabiru township. These ongoing activities 
are expected to be settled during the 12 months subsequent to 
balance date but are assessed regularly.

Additional details are provided in Note 1 (y) (i) in the Notes to the 
Financial Statements.

(i) Inventories
Inventories, other than stores, are carried at the lower of cost and 
net realisable value. Net realisable value is determined based 
on estimated future sales prices, exchange rates and capital and 
production costs, including transport. 

5656

Stockpiles represent ore that has been extracted and is available 
for further processing. If there is significant uncertainty as 
to when the stockpiled ore will be processed it is expensed 
as incurred. Where the future processing of this ore can be 
predicted with confidence, for example because it exceeds the 
mine’s cut-off grade, it is valued at the lower of cost and net 
realisable value.

Work in progress inventory includes ore stockpiles and other 
partly processed material. Quantities are assessed primarily 
through surveys and assays. 

Stores are valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value and 
are impaired accordingly to take into account obsolescence.

 For inventory management purposes the Company may enter 
into uranium loans as a lending or receiving party. These loans 
are entered into for logistical purposes and loans received are 
repaid from the Company’s inventory. The uranium loans do not 
meet the definition of a financial liability and are recorded net of 
inventory.

(j) Impairment of assets
Assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes 
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be 
recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount 
by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable 
amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s 
fair value less cost to sell and value in use. For the purposes of 
assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels 
for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash 
generating units).

Fair value is determined as the amount that would be obtained 
from the sale of the asset in an arm’s length transaction. 

The value in use is determined using the present value of the 
future cashflow expected to be derived from an asset or cash 
generating unit. 

(k) Property, plant and equipment

(i) Acquisition
Items of property, plant and equipment are recorded at historical 
cost and, except for land, are depreciated as outlined below. 
Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable 
to the acquisition of the items. Subsequent costs are included in 
the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, 
as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic 
benefits associated with the item will flow to the Company and 
the cost of the item can be measured reliably. Repairs and 
maintenance are charged to the statement of comprehensive 
income during the period in which they are incurred.

(ii) Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided for as follows:

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

(a)   individual assets that have a life equal to or longer than the 
estimated remaining life of the Ranger mine are depreciated 
on a unit of production basis over the life of the reserves; 
and

(b)  each other asset is depreciated over its estimated  

operating life on a straight line basis.

The following indicates the depreciation method for buildings  
and plant and equipment on which the depreciation charges are 
based:

• 
• 

buildings – units of production over the life of reserves; 
plant and equipment* – units of production over the life of 
reserves.

 *   Some of these assets are depreciated on a straight line  

basis over their useful operating life which is less than the life 
of the Ranger mine. See below for the estimated useful lives.
• Office equipment: computers - three years
• Office equipment: general - five years
• Plant and equipment - five years
• Furniture and fittings - ten years
• Motor vehicles - five years
• Tailings Storage Facility - three years
• Brine Concentrator - seven years

Assets are depreciated from the date of acquisition or, in respect 
of internally constructed assets, from the time an asset is 
completed and held ready for use.

All ERA’s property, plant and equipment is currently fully 
impaired. Property, plant and equipment expenditure incurred is 
recorded directly in other expenses.

(iii) Leases
Leases in which a significant portion of risks and rewards of 
ownership are not transfered to the Company as lessee are 
classified as operating leases (Note 22). Payments made under 
operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) 
are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income on a 
straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

(iv) Mine properties
Mine properties, consisting principally of Ranger Project Area 
mining rights, are amortised on a unit of production basis over the 
life of the economically recoverable reserves of Ranger.

(v) Deferred stripping costs
Stripping costs incurred in the development of a mine before 
production commences are capitalised as part of the cost of 
constructing the mine and subsequently amortised over the life of 
the mine on a units of production basis.

Stripping costs incurred during the production stage of mining 
operations are deferred where they are separately identifiable 
and do not form part of normal mining activities. These costs are 
deferred and amortised over the period in which the associated 
ore is produced.

(l) Exploration and evaluation expenditure
Exploration and evaluation expenditure comprises costs which 
are directly attributable to:

• 
• 

• 

• 

• 

researching and analysing existing exploration data;
conducting geological studies, exploratory drilling and 
sampling;
construction of underground tunnels, where necessary for 
exploration drilling;
examining and testing extraction and treatment methods; 
and
compiling prefeasibility and feasibility studies.

Exploration and evaluation expenditure also includes the costs 
incurred in acquiring mineral rights, the entry premiums paid to 
gain access to areas of interest and amounts payable to third 
parties to acquire interests in existing projects.

Capitalisation of exploration expenditure commences when 
there is a high degree of confidence in the project’s viability and 
hence it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the 
Company. Capitalised exploration expenditure is reviewed for 
impairment indicators at each balance sheet date. 

Subsequent recovery of the resulting carrying value depends 
on successful development of the area of interest or sale of the 
project. If a project does not prove viable, all unrecoverable costs 
associated with the project and the related impairment provisions 
are written off. Any impairment provisions raised in previous 
years are reassessed if there is a change in circumstances which 
indicates that they may no longer be required, for example if it is 
decided to proceed with development. If the project proceeds to 
development, the amounts included within intangible assets are 
transferred to property, plant and equipment. 

(i) Undeveloped properties
Undeveloped properties are mineral concessions where the 
intention is to develop and go into production in due course. 
The carrying values of these assets are reviewed annually by 
management and the results of these reviews are reported to the 
Board and Audit and Risk Committee. Impairment is assessed 
using the fair value less cost of disposal method. 

(m) Goods and Services Tax (GST)
Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the 
amount of associated GST, unless the GST incurred is not 
recoverable from the taxation authority. In this case it is 
recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as 
part of the expense.

Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of 
GST receivable or payable. The net amount of GST recoverable 
from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included with other 
receivables or payables in the balance sheet.  Cash flows are 
presented on a gross basis. The GST components of cash 
flows arising from investing or financing activities which are 
recoverable from, or payable to the taxation authority, are 
presented as operating cash flows.

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

(n) Trade and other payables
Liabilities are recognised for amounts to be paid in the future for 
goods and services received prior to the end of the financial year, 
whether or not billed to the Company. Trade accounts payable 
are normally settled within 60 days. These are recognised initially 
at their fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest rate method.

(o) Borrowings
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction 
costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of 
transaction costs) and the redemption amount is recognised in 
the statement of comprehensive income over the period of the 
borrowings using the effective interest method.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the 
Company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the 
liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

(p) Derivatives
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a 
derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-
measured to their fair value. The method of recognising the 
resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is 
designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the 
item being hedged. The Company designates derivatives as 
hedges against highly probable forecast transactions (cash flow 
hedges).

The Company documents at the inception of the transaction 
the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged 
items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy 
for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company also 
documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on 
an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in 
hedging transactions have been and will continue to be highly 
effective.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value is recognised 
in equity in the hedging reserve. The gain or loss relating to the 
ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

Amounts accumulated in equity are recycled in the statement 
of comprehensive income in the periods when the hedged item 
will affect profit or loss (for instance when the forecast sale 
that is hedged takes place). When a forecast transaction is no 
longer expected to occur the cumulative gain or loss that was 
reported in equity is immediately transferred to the statement of 
comprehensive income.

Derivative financial instruments are not held for speculative 
purposes.

(q) Employee entitlements

(i) Wages and salaries, annual leave and sick leave
The liability for employee entitlements to wages and salaries 
represents the amount which the Company has a present 
obligation to pay resulting from employees’ services provided 

5858

up to the reporting date. A provision exists for annual leave and 
accumulating sick leave as it is earned by employees and is 
measured at the amount expected to be paid when it is settled 
and includes all related on costs. Liabilities for non-accumulating 
sick leave are recognised when the leave is taken and measured 
at the rates paid or payable.

(ii) Long service leave

The liability for long service leave expected to be settled within 
12 months of the reporting date is recognised in the provision 
of employee benefits and is measured in accordance with (i) 
above. The liability for long service leave expected to be settled 
more than 12 months from the reporting date is measured as 
the present value of expected future payments to be made in 
respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting 
date. Consideration is given to the expected future wage and 
salary levels, experience of employee departures and periods 
of service.

Expected future payments are discounted using the rates 
attaching to Commonwealth Government securities at the 
reporting date, which most closely match the terms of maturity of 
the related liabilities.

(iii) Superannuation plan
Employees of the Company are entitled to benefits on retirement, 
disability or death from their membership of the Rio Tinto Staff 
Superannuation Fund (The Fund). The Fund has both a defined 
benefit and a defined contribution section. Contributions to the 
defined contribution superannuation plans are expensed in the 
income statement when incurred.

The Company has no staff who are members of the defined 
benefits section.

(iv) Termination benefits
Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated 
before the normal retirement date, or when an employee 
accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. 
The Company recognises termination benefits when it is 
demonstrably committed to either terminating the employment 
of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without 
possibility of withdrawal or to providing termination benefits as 
a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. 
Benefits falling due more than 12 months after the end of the 
reporting period are discounted to present value. 

(r) Segment reporting
Management has determined the operating segments based 
on the reports reviewed by the Chief Executive, used to make 
strategic decisions. The Chief Executive considers the business 
from a product perspective. 

(s) Cash and cash equivalents
For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, cash includes 
cash on hand and deposits held at call, net of any bank 
overdrafts.

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

(t) Contributed equity
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares 
or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from 
the proceeds. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue 
of new shares or options for the acquisition of a business are 
not included in the cost of the acquisition as part of the purchase 
consideration.

(u) Earnings per share

(i) Basic earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing net profit after 
income tax attributable to members of the Company, excluding 
any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares, by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during 
the financial year, adjusted for bonus elements in ordinary shares 
issued during the year.

(ii) Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in the 
determination of basic earnings per share to take into account 
the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs 
associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares and the 
weighted average number of shares assumed to have been 
issued for no consideration in relation to dilutive potential ordinary 
shares.

(v) Rounding of amounts
The Company is of a kind referred to in Class Order 2016/191, 
issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, 
relating to the ‘rounding off’ of amounts in the financial report. 
Amounts in the financial report have been ‘rounded off’ in 
accordance with that Class Order to the nearest thousand 
dollars, or in certain cases, to the nearest dollar.

(w) Share based payments
The fair value of cash settled share plans is recognised as a 
liability over the vesting period of the awards. Movements in that 
liability between accounting dates are recognised as an expense. 
The grant date fair value of the awards is taken to be the market 
value of the shares at the date of award reduced by a factor for 
anticipated relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance. 
Fair values are subsequently re-measured at each accounting 
date to reflect the number of awards expected to vest based on 
the current and anticipated TSR performance. If any awards are 
ultimately settled in shares, the liability is transferred direct to 
equity as the consideration for the equity instruments issued. 

Equity settled share plans are settled either by the issue of 
shares by the relevant parent Company, by the purchase of 
shares on market or by the use of shares previously acquired 
as part of a share buyback. The fair value of the share plans is 
recognised as an expense over the expected vesting period with 
a corresponding entry to other reserves. 

If the cost of shares acquired to satisfy the plans exceeds 
the expense charged, the excess is taken to the appropriate 

reserve. The fair value of the share plans is determined at the 
date of grant, taking into account any market based vesting 
conditions attached to the award (e.g. TSR). The Company 
uses fair values provided by independent actuaries calculated 
using a lattice based option valuation model. Non-market based 
vesting conditions (e.g. earnings per share targets) are taken into 
account in estimating the number of awards likely to vest. 

The estimate of the number of awards likely to vest is reviewed 
at each balance sheet date up to the vesting date, at which point 
the estimate is adjusted to reflect the actual awards issued. No 
adjustment is made after the vesting date even if the awards are 
forfeited or not exercised.

Further information about the treatment of individual share based 
payment plans is provided in Note 30.

(x) Dividends
Provision is made for the amount of any dividend declared, 
determined or publicly recommended by the Directors on or 
before the end of the financial year but not distributed at balance 
date.

(y) New accounting standards and interpretations
The new accounting standards and interpretations adopted on 
1 January 2018 were AASB 9 “Financial Instruments”, AASB 
15 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” and IFRIC 22 
“Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration” are 
mandatory in 2018. AASB 16 “Leases” and IFRIC 23 “Uncertainty 
over Income Tax Treatments” are mandatory in 2019 and AASB 
17 “Insurance Contracts” is mandatory in 2021. The impact of the 
transition and new accounting policies are disclosed in pages 59 
to 61 below.

The Company has not early adopted any amendments, 
standards or interpretations that have been issued but are not yet 
effective.

Changes in accounting policies resulting from application of 
Australian Accounting Standards applied from 1 January 2018

This note explains the impact of the adoption of AASB 9 
Financial Instruments and AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with 
Customers on the Company’s financial report and also discloses 
the new accounting policies applied from 1 January 2018, where 
these differ from those applied in prior periods.

The impact on equity attributable to owners of ERA as at  
1 January 2018 of the adoption of AASB 9 and AASB 15 is 
immaterial.

(i) AASB 9 Financial Instruments - Accounting policy 
applied from 1 January 2018
The standard replaced the provisions of IAS 39 that relate to the 
recognition, classification and measurement of financial assets 
and financial liabilities; de-recognition of financial instruments; 
impairment of financial assets and hedge accounting.

Financial Assets

Classification and measurement

The Company classifies its financial assets into the following 

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

categories: those to be measured subsequently at fair value (either 
through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) or through the 
income statement (FVPL)) and those to be held at amortised cost.

Classification depends on the business model for managing 
the financial assets and the contractual terms of the cash flows. 
Management determines the classification of financial assets at 
initial recognition. The Company’s policy with regard to financial 
risk management is set out in Note 28. Generally, ERA does not 
acquire financial assets for the purpose of selling in the short term. 
The Company’s business model is primarily that of ‘Hold to collect’ 
(where assets are held in order to collect contractual cash flows).

Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL)

This classification applies to the following financial assets, in 
all cases, transactions costs are immediately expensed to the 
income statement.

The Company is required to maintain with the Commonwealth 
Government the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund (Trust Fund) 
to provide security against the estimated costs of closing and 
rehabilitating the mine immediately (rather than upon the planned 
cessation of mining operations). Each year, the Company 
is required to prepare and submit to the Commonwealth 
Government an Annual Plan of Rehabilitation. Once accepted 
by the Commonwealth Government, the annual plan is then 
independently assessed and costed and the amount to be 
provided to the Commonwealth into the Trust Fund is then 
delivered. The Trust Fund includes both cash and financial 
guarantees. The cash funds are invested in local Australian 
deposit taking institutions and earn interest. The cash fund has 
previously been held at cost and under AASB 9 will be held at fair 
value through the profit & loss. 

Trade receivables include provisionally priced receivables relating 
to sales contracts where the selling price is determined after 
delivery to the customer, based on the market price at the relevant 
quotation point stipulated in the contract. At 31 December 2017, the 
quotational period exposure was considered to be an embedded 
derivative, which was separated from the host receivable and 
measured at fair through the profit and loss statement. On adoption 
of IFRS 9, the embedded derivative is no longer separated and the 
entire balance is accounted for as one instrument and measured at 
fair value. Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised on 
provisionally priced sales based on the selling price for the period 
stipulated in the contract, with subsequent fair value movements 
reported as revenue. At the end of December 2018, the provisionally 
priced receivables were immaterial.

Impairment of financial assets

A forward looking expected credit loss (ECL) review is required 
for; debt instruments measured at amortised cost or held at fair 
value through other comprehensive income; loan commitments 
and financial guarantees not measured at fair value through profit 
or loss; lease receivables and trade receivables that give rise to 
an unconditional right to consideration.

As permitted by AASB 9, the Company applies the ‘simplified 
approach’ to trade receivable balances and the ‘general 
approach’ to all other financial assets. The general approach 

incorporates a review for any significant increase in counterparty 
credit risk since inception. The ECL reviews include assumptions 
about the risk of default and expected loss rates. For trade 
receivables, the assessment takes into account the use of credit 
enhancements for example, letters of credit.

Financial liabilities

Borrowings and other financial liabilities (including trade payables) 
are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs 
incurred, and are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Impact of transition to AASB 9 Financial Instruments as at  
1 January 2018

The Company adopted AASB 9 Financial Instruments on  
1 January 2018, which resulted in changes in accounting policies 
but no adjustments to the amounts recognised in the financial 
statements as at this date.

For transition, the Company has elected to apply the limited 
exemption in AASB 9 relating to the classification, measurement 
and impairment requirements for financial assets and accordingly 
has not restated comparative periods. No resulting adjustments 
were required to carrying values in the opening balance sheet.

The Company applies the new forward looking expected credit 
loss model required by AASB 9, using the simplified approach for 
its trade receivables portfolio review and the general approach for 
all other financial assets as required by the standard. This did not 
result in a change in the provision.

(ii) AASB 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers - 
Accounting policy applied from 1 January 2018
AASB 15 replaces IAS 18 Revenue. The core principle of AASB 
15 is that an entity recognises revenue related to the transfer 
of promised goods or services when control of the goods or 
services passes to the customer. The amount of revenue 
recognised should reflect the consideration to which the entity 
expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

ERA places all sales through a marketing agreement with  
Rio Tinto Marketing PTE Limited (Rio Tinto Uranium) based in 
Singapore (Marketing Agreement). The Company reviewed the 
Marketing Agreement to identify potential changes in: timing of 
revenue recognition, measurement of the amount of revenue and 
note disclosure between IAS 18 and AASB 15.

The Company has adopted the modified transitional approach to 
implementation and the new standard has therefore been applied 
to the Marketing Agreement that remained in force at 1 January 
2018.The change in accounting has no impact on the commercial 
arrangement or current or future cash flows. Under AASB 15, sales 
revenue is recognised in the income statement when the product 
is transferred out of the Company’s holding account at the uranium 
converter (usually upon delivery to the converter) or upon delivery 
if the exchange occurs not at a uranium converter. There is no 
material impact as a result of the transition to the new standard.

Impact of transition to AASB 15 Revenue from contracts with 
customers

Sales revenue as reported in the income statement comprises 
sales to third parties. Certain sales may be provisionally priced 

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ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

at the date revenue is recognised. Sales revenue includes 
revenue from contracts with customers, which are accounted for 
under AASB 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ and 
subsequent movements in provisionally priced receivables is 
accounted for under AASB 9 ‘Financial Instruments’.

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognised on 
provisionally priced sales based on the selling price for the period 
stipulated in the contract, with subsequent fair value movements 
reported as revenue. This is because it is highly probable that the 
revenue would not be subject to a significant revenue reversal. 
Sales revenue as disclosed in these accounts includes revenue 
from movements in provisionally priced receivables, consistent 
with the treatment in prior periods.

ERA recognises sales revenue related to the transfer of promised 
goods or services when control of the goods or services passes 
to the customer. The amount of revenue recognised reflects the 
consideration to which the Company is or expects to be entitled 
in exchange for those goods or services.

Sales revenue is recognised on individual sales when 
control transfers to the customer. Judgement is required and 
generally the Company would consider the following indicators 
(acknowledging the standard does not have a hierarchy). The 
customer has control if the customer has:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the significant risks and rewards of ownership and has the 
ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the 
remaining benefits from, the good or service;
a present obligation to pay in accordance with the terms of 
the sales contract;
accepted the asset. Sales revenue may be subject to 
adjustment if the product specification does not conform to 
the terms specified in the sales contract but this does not 
impact the passing of control and is immaterial. Assay and 
specification adjustments have been immaterial historically;
legal title to the asset. The Company usually retains legal 
title until payment is received for credit risk purposes only; 
and
physical possession of the asset. This indicator may be less 
important as the customer may obtain control of an asset 
prior to obtaining physical possession, which may be the 
case for goods in transit.

After consideration of these five indicators, control passes and sales 
revenue is recognised when, following a contractual requirement the 
product is transferred out of the Company’s holding account at the 
uranium converter (usually upon delivery to the converter) or upon 
delivery if the exchange occurs not at a uranium converter, at which 
stage the risks of ownership are transferred.

Sales revenue excludes any applicable sales taxes. Mining 
royalties payable are presented as an operating cost.

The Company sells a significant proportion of its products on 
Delivered at Place (DAP), where control of the goods passes 
when the product is delivered to the agreed destination. There is 
only one performance obligation, being for provision of product at 
the point where control passes.

The Company’s products are sold to customers under contracts 

which vary in tenure and pricing mechanisms, including some 
volumes sold in the spot market.

As noted above, certain sales may be provisionally priced at the 
date revenue is recognised, however, substantially all Uranium 
sales are reflected at final prices in the results for the period due to 
the majority of sales being settled prior to the period end. The final 
selling price for all provisional priced products is based on the price 
for the quotational period stipulated in the contract. The change in 
value of the provisionally priced receivable is based on relevant 
market prices and is included in sales revenue as noted above.

Typically ERA has a right to payment before or at the point that 
control of the goods passes including a right, where applicable, to 
payment for provisionally priced products. Cash received before 
control passes is recognised as a contract liability. The amount of 
consideration does not contain a significant financing component 
as payment terms are significantly less than one year.

(iii) Australian Accounting standards mandatory beyond 
2018
AASB 16 “Leases” – work has been completed on understanding 
the provisions of the standard most relevant to the Company, 
adapting the contract review process to identify items relevant to 
the measurement of new leases, performing financial reporting 
impact analysis and determining system requirements.

AASB 16 will not impact the primary statements of the Company 
at transition but may in future years meaning all appropriately 
termed new leases will come on to the balance sheet as a right 
of use asset and lease liability, with operating expenses now 
replaced by interest and amortisation. 

The Company has used the modified retrospective approach for 
transition to the standard. As a result no leases have been identified 
that are required to be recognised as they are all either; below 
$5,000, with a term less than 12 month or relate to mineral leases.

2 

 Critical accounting estimates 
and judgements            
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are 
based on historical experience and other factors, including 
expectations of future events that may have a financial impact on 
the Company and that are believed to be reasonable under the 
circumstances.

The Company makes estimates and assumptions concerning 
the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, 
seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and 
assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material 
adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within 
the next financial year are discussed below.

(a) Rehabilitation provision
The calculation of the rehabilitation provision relies on estimates 
of costs and their timing to rehabilitate and restore disturbed land 
to original condition.

The costs are estimated on the basis of a closure model, 
taking into account considerations of the technical closure 

6161

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

options available to meet ERA’s obligations. The provision for 
rehabilitation represents the net present cost at 31 December 
2018 of the preferred plan within the requirements of the 
Ranger Authority. The Ranger Authority requires ERA to cease 
mining and processing activities by January 2021 and complete 
rehabilitation of the Ranger Project Area by January 2026.

The closure model is based on an updated feasibility study that 
was conducted in 2018 expanding on the previous prefeasibility 
study completed in 2011. Key packages of work completed since 
2012 include preliminary Pit 3 backfill, Pit 1 capping and design, 
construction and commissioning of the tailings dredging system.

Major activities to complete the rehabilitation plan include: 
material movements, water treatment, tailings transfer, demolition 
and revegetation. Major cost sensitivities include: material 
movements, water treatment and tailings transfer costs. 

Finalisation of the feasibility study identified a net increase in 
estimate of $305 million compared to December 2017. Whilst 
the strategy remains unchanged a greater level of engineering 
design and technical understanding identified expected increases 
in costs associated with: 
• 

costs associated with tailings transfer to Pit 3, additional 
water treatment and related infrastructure and revegetation 
requirements;
higher forecast costs related to site services and owners’ 
costs; and
an increase in contingency.

• 

• 

The ultimate cost of rehabilitation is uncertain and can vary 
in response to many factors including legal requirements, 
technological change, weather events and market conditions. It is 
reasonably possible that outcomes from within the next financial 
year that are different from the current cost estimate could 
require material adjustment to the rehabilitation provision for the 
Ranger Project Area.

Selected downside sensitivities on the Ranger rehabilitation 
provision are detailed below. 

Process water 
Additional process water volumes are sensitive to many factors 
and any additional water would require treating through ERA’s 
process water treatment infrastructure, primarily the brine 
concentrator. Water volumes can vary due to: 
• 
• 

additional rainfall above an average wet season; 
the performance of water treatment plants, including new 
smaller scale plants that are yet to be commissioned; 
the timing of closure of which water catchments occurs; and 
the volume of water expressed from tailings. 

• 
• 

If water treatment volumes exceed the available capacity, it 
may be necessary to expand treatment capacity. This may 
involve the construction of an additional brine concentrator plant 
or other alternate technology. This has not been allowed for 
in the estimate and would come at significant additional cost. 
Furthermore, any significant delay may further compress the 
schedule requiring alteration to other closure activities. 

Bulk material movement 
Pit 3 bulk material movements are sensitive to the volume of 

6262

material which is to be moved and the schedule of movement. 

Tailings transfer 
Tailings transferred from the Tailings Storage Facility to Pit 3 are 
principally sensitive to the characteristics of the tailings being 
moved. It is planned that in quarter 3, 2019 an additional dredge will 
be commissioned to derisk this process and maintain the schedule. 

Other factors 
In addition to the factors identified above there are many 
additional items that the estimate is sensitive to, including: 
evaporation rates, stakeholder requirements, brine salt disposal, 
engineering studies, tailings consolidation rates, plant mortality 
and project support costs.

In estimating the rehabilitation provision a risk-free discount rate 
is applied to the underlying cash flows. At 31 December 2018, 
the real discount rate was 2.00 per cent.

(b) Taxation
The income tax benefit recorded for the 31 December 2018 of 
$21 million comprises $23.4 million writeback of the deferred tax 
liability from the partial impairment of the Jabiluka Undeveloped 
Property. This is partially offset by $2.4 million write-off of the 
remaining deferred tax assets on temporary differences.

ERA has approximately $191 million tax losses (at 30 per cent) 
that are not recognised as deferred tax assets due to uncertainty 
regarding ERA’s ability to generate adequate levels of future 
taxable profits. This treatment is reviewed periodically. Should 
future taxable profits eventuate this treatment will not impact 
ERA’s ability to utilise available tax losses in future periods.

Judgement is required in regard to the application of income tax 
legislation. There is an inherent risk and uncertainty in applying 
these judgements and a possibility that changes in legislation will 
impact the carrying amount of deferred tax assets and deferred 
tax liabilities recognised on the balance sheet.

(c) Determination of ore reserves and resources

ERA estimates the Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources based 
on information compiled by a Competent Person as defined 
in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of 
Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves 
(the JORC code).  There are numerous uncertainties inherent 
in estimating Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources and 
assumptions that are valid at the time of estimation may change 
significantly when new information becomes available.

Changes in the forecast prices of commodities, exchange rates, 
production costs or recovery rates may change the economic 
status of Ore Reserves and may, ultimately, result in the Ore 
Reserves being restated.  Such changes in Ore Reserves could 
impact on depreciation and amortisation rates, asset carrying 
values and provisions for rehabilitation.  ERA’s Ore Reserves  
and Mineral Resources Statement as at 31 December 2018 is  
on pages 13 and 14.

(d) Asset carrying values
ERA has two cash generating units (CGUs), the Ranger Project 
Area and the Jabiluka Mineral Lease. The Ranger CGU includes 
all assets and liabilities related to activities on the Ranger 

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Project Area, including the rehabilitation provision. The Jabiluka 
Undeveloped Property relates to the Jabiluka Mineral Lease 
which is currently subject to a Long Term Care and Maintenance 
Agreement with Traditional Owners.

At 31 December 2018, the property, plant and equipment in 
the Ranger CGU continues to be fully impaired. When capital 
expenditure is incurred it is immediately expensed to the Statement 
of Comprehensive Income. In the year ended 31 December 2018, 
$4.3 million in capital expenditure was expensed. 

At the end of each reporting period, ERA assesses whether 
there are any indications that the CGUs may be impaired or 
whether circumstances have changed to indicate reversal 
of prior impairments. This requires judgement in analysing 
possible impacts caused by factors such as the price of uranium 
oxide, foreign exchange movements, discount rate, operating 
and capital estimates, project progression, Traditional Owner 
relationships and weather impacts on process water inventories. 

ERA assesses the recoverable amount using a fair value less 
costs of disposal (FVLCD) method. ERA conducts impairment 
testing using a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model.

(e) Undeveloped Properties
Undeveloped properties are considered assets not yet ready for 
use. In reporting periods where impairment testing is required, 
the recoverable amount of the undeveloped properties is 
determined using the fair value less costs of disposal method. 
Undeveloped properties consist of the Jabiluka Mineral Lease.

The Jabiluka Mineral Lease is currently subject to a Long Term 
Care and Maintenance Agreement with Traditional Owners. This 
agreement ensures the Jabiluka deposit will not be developed 
without the consent of the Mirarr Traditional Owners. It is 
uncertain that this consent will be forthcoming and, by extension, 
that the Jabiluka deposit will be developed. Should this consent 
not eventuate in the future, the Jabiluka Undeveloped Property 
would face full impairment.

The valuation of the Jabiluka Mineral Lease requires a high degree 
of judgement. To determine the fair value, ERA uses a probability 
weighted discounted cash flow model, based on post-tax cash 
flows expressed in real terms, estimated until the end of the life 
of mine plan and discounted using an asset-specific post-tax real 
discount rate. Results are cross checked against market valuations 
of other undeveloped mining projects in the uranium industry and 
the broader mining sector, including market valuations of mining 
assets subject to long term approval constraints. The approach 
has been reviewed by an external valuation expert.

ERA regularly reviews and updates these assumptions and 
assesses potential impairment indicators. In the June 2018 half-
year, the review identified indicators that the carrying amount of 
the Jabiluka Undeveloped Property may not be recovered in full 
from successful development or sale, following the significant 
reduction in the forecast long-term consensus uranium price.

As a result, the Company, as required by the Australian 
Accounting Standard AASB 136 Impairment of Assets, 
completed a full impairment test. ERA commissioned an external 
assessment of the forecast long-term uranium oxide price. 

ERA concluded that the fair value of the Jabiluka Undeveloped 
Property amounted to $89.9 million, resulting in an after tax 
impairment charge of $90.4 million, comprising impairment 
charge of $113.8 million, partially offset by the release of a 
deferred tax liability of $23.4 million as at June 2018.

The reduction in fair value and resulting impairment charge were 
primarily driven by external factors including a material decline 
in long-term broker consensus uranium price and an increase in 
the asset-specific discount rate, reflecting recent volatility in the 
uranium equity market.

At 31 December 2018, no further impairment indicators were 
identified.

Key assumptions to which the Jabiluka model is sensitive 
include: the probability of future development, uranium oxide 
prices (including term contract price premiums in the future), 
foreign exchange rates, production and capital costs, discount 
rate, ore reserves and mineral resources, lease tenure renewal 
and development delays. A change in these assumptions may 
result in further impairment.

Selected downside sensitivities to the fair value of the Jabiluka 
CGU and the potential further impact on impairment testing at 31 
December 2018 are summarised below:

Sensitivity

Potential further impairment

-10 per cent change in the 
forecast uranium oxide prices

+20 per cent change in 
development capital

+5 per cent change in forecast 
Australian/US dollar exchange 
rates

+1 per cent change in discount 
rate

$83 million further impairment

$84 million further impairment

$33 million further impairment

$32 million further impairment

Notwithstanding the impact on the carrying value, ERA’s view 
remains that Jabiluka is a large, high quality uranium ore body of 
global significance.

(f) Inventory net realisable value
The calculation of net realisable value is sensitive to key 
assumptions including: uranium price, Australia/US dollar 
exchange rate and, where applicable, costs to complete.   
The sales price of uranium oxide is denominated in US dollars, 
so fluctuations in the Australian/US dollar exchange rate will 
affect the proceeds received from sales and consequently the 
recoverable amount. 

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realisable value 
in accordance with AASB 102.

Total net realisable value adjustments recorded periodically 
through the year was $Nil million (pre-tax) (2017: $7.1 million).  
The net realisable value adjustment has been included in 
‘Changes in inventories’ in the statement of comprehensive 
income.

6363

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

3 

Revenue

REVENUE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

Sale of goods

Rendering of services

Total sales revenue

Other revenue

Interest received/receivable, other parties

Rent received

Contract compensation

Insurance recoveries

Net gain on sale of property, plant and equipment

Net revenue foreign exchange gain / (Loss)

Total other revenue

Total revenue from continuing operations

4 

Expenses

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX INCLUDES 
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC EXPENSES:

Cost of sales 

Produced product (uranium oxide)

Total cost of sales

Government and other royalties 

Royalty payments

Payments to Indigenous interests

Total Government and other royalties

Financing costs

Other parties

Unwinding of discount (rehabilitation provision)

Total Financing Costs

Other Expenses

Property, plant and equipment expensed

Office and other expenses

Total Other Expenses

Other individually significant expenses

Net expenses foreign exchange (gain)/loss

Rental expense relating to operating leases

Defined contribution superannuation expense

6464

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

201,203

211,150

70

31

201,273

211,181

10,293

904

3,194

152

-

(204)

14,339

9,393

866

3,212

15,224

169

426

29,290

215,612

240,471

NOTES

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

22

22

144,432

144,432

186,680

186,680

2,437

8,287

10,724

2,070

20,469

22,539

4,334

674

5,008

362

4,110

3,992

2,549

8,666

11,215

1,924

20,148

22,072

7,295

1,203

8,498

355

4,539

4,235

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

5 

Income tax expense/(benefit)

INCOME TAX EXPENSE/(BENEFIT)

Current tax

Deferred tax

Under/(over) provided in prior years

Income tax expense/(benefit)

Deferred income tax (revenue)/expense included in income tax expense comprises:

Decrease/(increase) in deferred tax assets (Note 18B)

(Decrease)/increase in deferred tax liabilities (Note 18A)

Deferred tax

RECONCILIATION OF INCOME TAX EXPENSE TO PRIMA FACIE TAX PAYABLE

Operating loss before income tax

Tax at the Australian tax rate of 30% (2017: 30%)

Tax effect of amounts which are not deductible/(taxable) in calculating taxable income: 

Derecognition of deferred tax assets

Rehabilitation expenditure

Other items

Income tax expense/(benefit)

AMOUNTS RECOGNISED DIRECTLY IN EQUITY

Aggregate current and deferred tax arising in the  
reporting period and not recognised in net profit or loss  
but directly debited or (credited) to equity

Net deferred tax asset (Note 18B)

6 

Dividends

Dividends paid or declared
No dividends have been paid or declared for the year ended 31 December 2018 (2017: nil).

Dividends franking account 

Franking credits available for subsequent financial years  
based on a tax rate of 30% (2017: 30%)

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

-

(21,049)

-

(21,049)

-

-

-

-

2,280

10,724

(23,329)

(10,724)

(21,049)

-

(456,323)

(43,532)

(136,897)

(13,060)

126,977

(11,632)

503

(21,049)

17,028

(4,167)

199

-

-

(19)

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

234,095

234,095

The above amounts represent the balance of the franking account as at the end of the financial year, adjusted for franking credits that 
will arise from the payment of the amount of the provision for income tax as applicable.

The ability to utilise the franking account credits is dependent upon there being sufficient available profits to declare dividends.

6565

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

7 

Cash and cash equivalents

CURRENT

Cash at bank and in hand

Deposits at call

Cash and cash equivalents

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

15,528

298,208

313,736

3,680

391,797

395,477

Cash at bank/Deposits at call
Cash assets and deposits bear floating interest rates between 0 per cent and 2.70 per cent (2017: 0.0 per cent and 2.48 per cent).

Interest rate risk exposure
The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk is discussed in Note 28.

8 

Trade and other receivables

CURRENT

Trade debtors

Other debtors

Trade and other receivables

2018 
$’000

7,831

2,688

10,519

2017 
$’000

6,603

2,300

8,903

Impairment of receivables
No trade receivables are past due. There is no impairment of trade receivables.

Other debtors relate to transactions outside the usual operating activities of the Company and are predominately concerned with 
receipts from employees and businesses operating within the Jabiru township. These ongoing activities are expected to be settled 
during the 12 months subsequent to balance date.

Foreign exchange and interest rate risk
The Company operates internationally but is primarily exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from currency exposures with respect 
to the US dollar. 

A summarised analysis of the sensitivity of trade and other receivables to foreign exchange and interest rate risk can be found in 
Note 28.

Fair value and credit risk
Due to the short-term nature of trade and other receivables, their carrying amount approximates their fair value.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying amount of each class of receivables mentioned above. 

The Company does not hold any collateral as security. Refer to Note 28 for more information on the financial risk management policy 
of the Company.

9 

Inventories – current

Stores and spares

Ore stockpiles at cost

Work in progress at cost

Finished product U3O8 at cost

Total current Inventory

6666

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

15,913

17,182

-

1,879

97,560

8,863

3,737

86,144

115,352

115,926

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Inventory expense
Obsolescence of inventory provided for and recognised as an expense during the year ended 31 December 2018 amounted to 
$141,812 (2017: $Nil).

Write-downs of inventories to net realisable value recognised as an expense during the year ended 31 December 2018 amounted to 
$Nil (2017: $7,102,511). The expense has been included in ‘Changes in inventories’ in the statement of comprehensive income.

10  Other assets

Prepayments

11 

Inventories – non-current

Finished product U3O8 at cost

12  Undeveloped properties

Jabiluka: Long-term care and maintenance development project

Balance brought forward

Amount capitalised during the year

Non-cash impairment change

Total undeveloped properties

2018 
$’000

1,484

2018 
$’000

30,104

2017 
$’000

473

2017 
$’000

-

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

203,632

203,632

-

(113,776)

-

-

89,856

203,632

Undeveloped properties are considered an asset not yet ready for use. In reporting periods where impairment testing is required, the 
the recoverable amount of the undeveloped properties is determined using the fair value less cost of disposal method.

Fair value less cost of disposal has been determined using a discounted cash flow model. Key assumptions to which the model is 
most sensitive include:

probability of future development;
uranium prices (including term contract price premium in the future);
foreign exchange rates;
production and capital costs;
discount rate; 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•  Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources; and
• 

lease tenure renewal and development delays.

In determining the value assigned to each key assumption, where possible, the Company has used external sources of information 
and has utilised the expertise of external consultants to validate entity-specific assumptions such as costs, production techniques and 
Mineral Resources.

Further, the Company’s cash flow forecasts are based on estimates of future uranium prices, which are based on long term broker 
consensus forecasts and assume a premium for long term contracts. As a result of identifying an indicator of impairment at 30 June 
2018 ERA conducted an impairment review of the Jabiluka Undeveloped Property. ERA concluded that the fair value of the Jabiluka 
Undeveloped Property amounted to $89.9 million, resulting in an after tax impairment charge of $90.4 million, comprising impairment 
charge of $113.8 million, partially offset by the release of a deferred tax liability of $23.4 million as at June 2018.

The recoverable amount is dependent on the development and life of the ore body together with the term and continuity of the mining 
lease. It reflects expected future cashflows contained in the long term asset plan with an adjustment of cashflows expected to take 
into account project development risk.  The Company has projected cashflows for the period of the current mining lease, together with 
a ten year renewal period.

The Jabiluka Mineral Lease is currently under long-term care and maintenance. The Company has agreed that future mining 

6767

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

development will not occur without the consent of the Mirarr Traditional Owners.  It is uncertain that this consent will be forthcoming 
and, by extension, that the Jabiluka deposit will be developed. Should this consent not eventuate in the future, the Jabiluka 
Undeveloped Property would face full impairment. 

The discount rate applied to the future cash flow forecasts represents an estimate of the rate the market would apply having regard to 
the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the future cash flow estimates have not been adjusted.

13  Property, plant and equipment

MINE LAND AND 
BUILDINGS 
$’000

PLANT AND 
EQUIPMENT 
$’000

MINE 
PROPERTIES 
$’000

REHABILITATION 
$’000

TOTAL 
$’000

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Opening net book amount

Additions

Disposals

Change in estimate

Depreciation/amortisation charge/ 
writeoffs

Impairment Loss

Closing net book amount

Cost

Accumulated depreciation/
amortisation/impairment/writeoffs

Net book amount

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

Opening net book amount

Additions

Disposals

Change in estimate

Depreciation/amortisation charge

Impairment Loss

Closing net book amount

Cost

Accumulated depreciation/
amortisation/impairment

Net book amount

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4,334

-

-

(4,334)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4,334

-

-

(4,334)

-

-

110,845

1,175,724

421,700

342,327

2,050,596

(110,845)

(1,175,724)

(421,700)

(342,327)

(2,050,596)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7,295

-

-

(7,295)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

7,295

-

-

(7,295)

-

-

110,845

1,171,390

421,700

342,327

2,046,262

(110,845)

(1,171,390)

(421,700)

(342,327)

(2,046,262)

-

-

-

-

-

Assets under construction
The cost of the assets disclosed above include the following expenditure disclosed in property, plant and equipment which is in the 
course of construction:

Plant and equipment

6868

2018 
$’000

1,618

2017 
$’000

5,710

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

14 

Investment in trust fund

NON-CURRENT

Trust Fund

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

74,715

72,901

Trust Fund
The Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund holds a restricted fixed term investment in the form of bank bills which mature and are 
reinvested periodically. The Trust Fund is held at cost with accrued interest and is classified as a non-current receivable. The 
applicable weighted average interest rate for the year ended 31 December 2018 was 2.47 per cent (2017: 2.40 per cent).

15  Payables

CURRENT

Trade payables

Amounts due to related parties

Other payables

Total payables

16  Provisions – current

CURRENT

Employee benefits

Rehabilitation

Total current provisions

Movements in current rehabilitation provision
Movements in the rehabilitation provision during the financial year are set out below:

2018

Carrying amount at the start of the year

Payments

Transfer from non-current provision

Carrying amount at the end of the year

2017

Carrying amount at the start of the year

Payments

Transfer from non-current provision

Carrying amount at the end of the year

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

36,059

1,110

708

35,033

1,060

684

37,877

36,777

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

10,357

91,876

102,233

9,290

71,640

80,930

REHABILITATION 
$’000

71,640

(58,946)

79,182

91,876

REHABILITATION 
$’000

48,711

(27,025)

49,954

71,640

6969

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

17  Provisions – non-current

NON-CURRENT

Employee benefits

Rehabilitation

Carrying amount at the end of the year

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

3,350

738,535

741,885

3,639

454,049

457,688

Movements in non-current rehabilitation provision
As a result of the Ranger Cash Generating Unit being fully impaired in 2016, the 2018 changes in rehabilitation estimates have been 
allocated directly to the Statement of Comprehensive Income. Movements in the rehabilitation provision during the financial year are 
set out below:

REHABILITATION 
$’000

454,049

343,199

20,469

(79,182)

738,535

REHABILITATION 
$’000

462,720

21,135

20,148

(49,954)

454,049

2018

Carrying amount at the start of the year

Change in estimate

Unwinding of discount

Transfer to current provision

Carrying amount at the end of the year

2017

Carrying amount at the start of the year

Change in estimate

Unwinding of discount

Transfer to current provision

Carrying amount at the end of the year

7070

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

18  Deferred tax liability

(A) DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY

The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to:

Amounts recognised in profit and loss

Investment in trust fund

Undeveloped properties

Inventories

Receivables

Total deferred tax liabilities

Off-set of deferred tax asset pursuant to set-off provisions (Note 18B)

Net deferred tax liabilities

Movements

Opening balance at 1 January

(Credited)/debited to the income statement (Note 5)

Closing balance at 31 December

(B) DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

The balance comprises temporary differences attributable to:

Amounts recognised in profit and loss

Property, plant and equipment

Employee provisions

Other

Total deferred tax assets

Set-off of deferred tax liabilities pursuant to set-off provisions (Note 18A)

Net deferred tax assets

Movements

Opening balance at 1 January

Credited to the income statement (Note 5)

Credited to equity (Note 5)

Closing balance at 31 December

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

22,415

-

3,734

570

21,870

23,405

4,137

636

26,719

50,048

(26,719)

(28,999)

-

21,049

50,048

60,772

(23,329)

(10,724)

26,719

50,048

20,331

24,339

4,111

2,277

3,879

781

26,719

28,999

(26,719)

(28,999)

-

-

28,999

(2,280)

-

39,704

(10,724)

19

26,719

28,999

7171

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

19  Share capital

SHARE CAPITAL

A Class shares fully paid

Total contributed equity

2018 
SHARES

2017 
SHARES

517,725,062

517,725,062

2018 
$’000

706,485

706,485

2017 
$’000

706,485

706,485

Ordinary shares entitle the holder to participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the Company in proportion to the 
number of shares held. 

On a show of hands every holder of ordinary shares present at a shareholders’ meeting in person or by proxy, is entitled to one vote, 
and upon a poll each share is entitled to one vote.

Capital risk management
Details of the Company’s exposure to risks when managing capital are set out in Note 28.

20  Reserves and retained profits

RESERVES

Share-based payments reserve

Capital reconstruction

Total Reserves

Movements

Share-based payments reserve

Balance 1 January

Option expense

Balance 31 December

Capital reconstruction

Balance 1 January

Movements

Balance 31 December

ACCUMULATED LOSSES

Movements in retained profits were as follows:

Opening retained earnings – 1 January

Net loss for the year

Closing retained earnings/(accumulated losses) – 31 December

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

(603)

389,500

388,897

(200)

389,500

389,300

(200)

(403)

(603)

(60)

(140)

(200)

389,500

389,500

-

-

389,500

389,500

(940,898)

(897,366)

(435,274)

(43,532)

(1,376,172)

(940,898)

Nature and purpose of reserves
The share based payments reserve is used to recognise the fair value of equity instruments issued to employees but not exercised.

Capital reconstruction reserve
In June 1995, the Company reduced its share capital by cancelling $0.95 of the capital paid up on each issued share and reducing 
the par value of each issued share from $1.00 to $0.05. The cancelled capital (comprising $389,500,000 in total) was credited to a 
Capital Reconstruction Reserve. The Company has the ability to distribute capital to shareholders from this reserve.

7272

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

21  Contingencies

Contingent Assets
Legal actions for the Company:

As at 31 December 2018, the Company was in negotiations regarding a dispute related to the commissioning and operation of certain 
mine infrastructure. In February 2019, the Company received compensation of US$10.2 million which will be recognised in the 2019 
Financial Statements.

Contingent liabilities
Legal actions against the Company:

The remaining argument in the action listed in the Federal Court against the former Commonwealth Minister for Resources and the 
Company claiming that due process was not followed in granting approvals for the Jabiluka Mill Alternative is dormant. Should the 
Company proceed with the Jabiluka Mill Alternative, notice will be given to the applicant who may or may not wish to pursue the 
argument further.

No material losses are anticipated in respect of the contingent liability disclosed above.

22  Commitments

Capital commitments
Capital expenditure contracted for at the reporting date is as follows:

Within one year

Lease commitments 
Future operating lease rentals not provided for in the financial statements and payable: 

Commitments in relation to leases contracted for at the reporting 
date but not recognised as liabilities, payable

Within one year

Later than one year but not later than five years

Total operating leases

2018 
$’000

3,158

2017 
$’000

2,943

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

1,386

2,149

3,535

1,644

3,473

5,117

The Company leases property, plant and equipment under operating leases expiring between one and three years. Some leases 
provide the Company with a right of renewal at which time all terms are renegotiated. 

Mineral tenement leases
Future mineral tenement lease payments not provided for in the financial statements and payable:

Within one year

Later than one year but not later than five years

Later than five years

Total mineral tenement leases

2018 
$’000

153

612

102

867

2017 
$’000

146

583

243

972

In order to maintain current rights of tenure to mining tenements, the Company will be required to outlay an amount of $153,011 in the 
year ending 31 December 2018 in respect of tenement lease rentals.

7373

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
 
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

The Company is liable to make payments to the Commonwealth as listed below:
(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

An annual amount equal to the sum payable by the Commonwealth to the Northern Land Council pursuant to the Section 
44 Agreement for rent for the duration of the agreement. This amounted to $1,018,911 for 2018 and is indexed for future  
years.
Amounts equal to the sums payable by the Commonwealth to the Aboriginal Benefits Reserve pursuant to a determination  
under Section 63(5) (b) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. The Company is required to pay 2.5 
per cent of Ranger net sales revenue to the Commonwealth and 1.75 per cent of Ranger net sales revenue to the Northern 
Land Council or an entity representing the Mirarr Traditional Owners as directed by the Northern Land Council (amounts 
paid during 2018: $8,286,580; 2017: $8,665,997).
Amounts equal to sums payable by the Commonwealth to the Northern Territory pursuant to an understanding in respect of 
financial arrangements between the Commonwealth and the Government of the Northern Territory. These amounts are also 
calculated as though they were royalties and the relevant rate is 1.25 per cent of Ranger net sales revenue (amounts paid 
during 2018:$2,437,229; 2017:$2,548,996).

The Company is liable to make payments to the Northern Land Council pursuant to the Section 43 Agreement between 
Pancontinental Mining Limited and Getty Oil Development Company Limited and the Northern Land Council dated 21 July 1982, 
which was assigned to the Company with the consent of the Northern Land Council, as listed below:

(i) 
(ii) 

Up front payment of $3,400,000 on the commencement of production at Jabiluka.
Annual royalty payments calculated at 4.5 per cent of net sales revenue less $500,000 less any amounts paid to the 
Aboriginal Benefits Reserve by the Commonwealth under the conditions specified in the Jabiluka Mineral Lease for the first 
10 years and thereafter at 5 per cent of net sales revenue less any amounts paid to the Aboriginal Benefits Reserve by the 
Commonwealth under the conditions specified in the mineral lease (refer commitment below).

The Company is liable to make payments to the Commonwealth in respect of the Jabiluka project pursuant to the conditions attached 
to the mineral lease. The amount payable was, until 30 June 1990, calculated at the rate of 5.25 per cent of net sales revenue from 
the Jabiluka project. The Jabiluka project is now under long term care and maintenance and will not be developed without the consent 
of the Mirarr Traditional Owners. 

23  Auditor’s remuneration

During the year the auditor of the Company earned the following remuneration:

AUDIT SERVICES

PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian firm

Audit and review of financial reports

Audit and review of financial reports (additional prior year fees)

Audit related services

Total remuneration of PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

290

10

-

300

245

86

-

331

7474

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

24  Related parties

Directors
The names of persons who were Directors of the Company at any time during the financial year are as follows:

Peter Mansell, Shane Charles, Paul Dowd, Paul Arnold, Zara Fisher, Andrea Sutton (appointed 30 October 2018), Kevin McLeish 
(appointed 19 June 2018, resigned 30 October 2018), and Sinead Kaufman (resigned 19 June 2018).

Information relating to Directors’ compensation, shareholdings and retirement benefits is set out in the Remuneration Report in the 
Directors’ Report.

Key management personnel 

Key management personnel and Directors’ compensation  

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

Share-based payments

2018 
$’000

2,974

226

353

2017 
$’000

2,739

191

348

3,553

3,278

In compliance with Corporations Regulations 2001 2M.3.03 the Company has provided detailed remuneration disclosures in the 
Director’s report. The relevant information can be found in the Remuneration Report on pages 26 to 40.

Loans with Directors and key management personnel
There were no loans with Directors or key management personnel during 2018 (2017: Nil).

Transactions with Directors and Director-related entities
There were no transactions with Directors or Director-related entities other than Rio Tinto Limited during 2018 (2017: nil). Details of 
transactions with Rio Tinto Group Companies are outlined below.

Ultimate parent entity
The ultimate parent entity is Rio Tinto Limited. This interest is held through North Limited (incorporated in Victoria, Australia) which 
has beneficial ownership of 68.4 per cent of the issued ordinary shares of the Company. North Ltd owns 34.1 per cent directly and the 
remaining 34.3 per cent through its subsidiary, Peko-Wallsend Pty Ltd.

Interest income
Interest income is received from Rio Tinto Finance Ltd which holds cash on behalf of the Company.

7575

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Transactions with related parties
The following transactions occurred with related parties:

Management services fees paid to ultimate parent entity:

Rio Tinto Group Companies

Consulting fees paid to:

Rio Tinto Group Companies

Other reimbursements paid for commercial services received:

Rio Tinto Group Companies

Amounts received from related parties:

Rio Tinto Group Companies – sales 

Rio Tinto Group Companies – interest

Dividends paid to:

Related parties – North Ltd

Related parties – Peko-Wallsend Pty Ltd

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

(91)

(91)

(2,193)

(2,031)

(12,154)

(13,703)

202,327

212,502

1,105

1,634

-

-

-

-

Amounts received from related parties include sales of uranium oxide at market price.  The Company is party to a marketing 
agreement with Rio Tinto Uranium on the basis that it represented a superior value to the Company then alternative marketing 
agreements considered. Under the revised marketing agreement, uranium oxide produced by the Company is sold to Rio Tinto 
Uranium a related party of Rio Tinto plc.

Outstanding balances arising from sales/purchases of goods and services
The following balances are outstanding at the reporting date in relation to transactions with related parties:

Aggregate amounts received from and payable to each class of other related parties at balance 
date were as follows:

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

Current assets - cash assets

Related parties - Rio Tinto Finance Ltd

Current assets - receivables

Related parties - Rio Tinto Group Companies

Current liabilities - creditors

Related parties - Rio Tinto Group Companies

Current liabilities - income received in advance

Related parties - Rio Tinto Group Companies

98,208

56,898

5,016

4,035

1,110

1,060

34,561

45,981

All related party transactions were conducted on arm’s length terms and conditions and at market rates.

7676

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

25  Segment information

Description of segments
Management has determined the operating segment based on the reports reviewed by the Chief Executive that are used to make 
strategic decisions.

The Chief Executive considers the business from a product prospective and has identified only one reportable segment in the year 
ended 31 December 2018, being the mining, processing and selling of uranium. There are no other unallocated operations. 

Primary reporting – business segments
The segment information provided to the Chief Executive for the reportable segment is as follows:

Revenue from external customers

Other revenue 

Total segment revenue 

Segment result 

Income Tax Benefit

Profit/(loss) for the year

Segment assets 

Total assets

Segment liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Acquisitions of non-current assets

Non-cash Impairment charge

Net (gain)/loss on sale of property, plant and equipment

URANIUM

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

201,273

211,181

14,339

29,290

215,612

240,471

(456,323)

(43,532)

21,049

-

(435,274)

(43,532)

635,766

635,766

916,556

916,556

4,334

113,776

-

797,312

797,312

642,425

642,425

7,295

-

(169)

7777

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD                                                                                                                                   
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Other segment information

Segment revenue
The revenue from external parties reported to the Chief Executive is measured in a manner consistent with that in the 
income statement.

Revenues from external customers are derived from the sale of uranium. A breakdown of revenue and results is provided in the tables 
below. Segment revenue reconciles to total revenue from continuing operations as disclosed in Note 3.

The Company is domiciled in Australia. The result of its revenue from external customers in other countries is outlined in the 
table below:

Asia

Total revenue

SEGMENT REVENUES  
FROM SALES TO  
EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS

2018 
$’000

201,203

201,203

2017 
$’000

211,150

211,150

Segment revenues are allocated based on the country in which the customer is located. During 2014 the Company entered into a 
marketing agreement with Rio Tinto Uranium based in Asia.  Details are disclosed in Note 24.

Segment assets
The amounts provided to the Chief Executive with respect to total assets are measured in a manner consistent with that of the 
financial statements. These assets are allocated based on the operations of the segment and the physical location of the asset. 
Segment assets include all assets used by a segment and consist primarily of operating cash, receivables, inventories, property, plant 
and equipment and other assets, net of provisions.

All assets of the Company as at 31 December 2018 are in Australia with the exception of inventories in transit or at converters of 
$57,344,834 (2017: $80,219,681). All acquisitions of property, plant and equipment and other non-current assets occurred in Australia.

Segment liabilities
The amounts provided to the Chief Executive with respect to total liabilities are measured in a manner consistent with that of the 
financial statements. These liabilities are allocated based on the operations of the segment. Segment liabilities consist primarily of 
trade and other creditors, employee entitlements and provisions. The Company does not have any borrowings or derivative financial 
instruments as at 31 December 2018.

7878

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

26  Reconciliation of loss after income tax to net cash inflow/(outflow) from  

operating activities

Loss for the year

Add/(less) items classified as investing/financing activities:

Property, plant and equipment expensed

Add/(less) non-cash items:

Depreciation and amortisation

Non cash impairment charge

Rehabilitation provision: unwinding of discount

Employee benefits: share based payments

Net exchange differences

Change in operating assets and liabilities

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in other assets

(Increase)/decrease in investment in trust fund

(Decrease)/increase in payables

(Increase)/decrease in net deferred tax assets

(Decrease)/increase in provisions

Net cash inflow/(outflow) provided from operating activities

27  Earnings per share 

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

(435,274)

(43,532)

4,334

7,126

-

113,776

20,469

665

3

(13,036)

(29,530)

(1,011)

(1,814)

1,100

(21,049)

285,031

(76,336)

-

-

20,148

697

(4)

9,010

21,139

(473)

(2,112)

2,420

(19)

(6,562)

7,838

2018 
CENTS

(84.1)

(84.1)

2017 
CENTS

(8.4)

(8.4)

Earnings used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share: 2018: ($435,273,942) (2017: ($43,532,097).
Weighted average number of ordinary shares on issue used in calculation of basic earnings per share: 2018: 517,725,062 shares 
(2017: 517,725,062). 

Options
Options granted to employees under the share-based payment plans are for options in Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited. Therefore, 
the options have not been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share. Details relating to the options are set out in 
Note 30.

28  Financial risk management
The Company carries out risk management under policies approved by the Board of Directors. The Board provides principles for 
overall risk management, as well as written policies covering specific areas, such as mitigating interest rate and other risks, use of 
derivative and non-derivative financial instruments. 

The Company’s business is mining and not trading. Accordingly, the Company only contracts to sell uranium that it plans to produce, 
however purchasing uranium for resale may be required in circumstances where actual production falls short of contractual sales 
volumes. The Company operates entirely in Australia and is exposed primarily to Australian dollar denominated costs. Sales are 
primarily denominated in US dollars.

7979

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Market risk
The Company markets its products internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency exposures, 
primarily with respect to the US dollar. Foreign exchange risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognised assets and 
liabilities that are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. The risk is measured using sensitivity analysis 
and cash flow forecasting.

The Company’s exposure to foreign currency risk at the reporting date was as follows:

Trade receivables

Trade payables

2018
USD 
$’000

3,364

(275)

2017 
USD 
$’000

3,017

(278)

Group sensitivity
At 31 December 2018, had the Australian Dollar weakened/strengthened by 10 per cent against the US Dollar with all other variables 
held constant, the change in trade receivables would have affected pre-tax profit for the year by $477,596 higher/lower (2017: 
$387,214 higher/lower).

At 31 December 2018, had the Australian Dollar weakened/strengthened by 10 per cent against the US Dollar with all other variables 
held constant, the change in trade payables would have effected pre-tax profit for the year by $38,982 higher/lower (2017: $35,645 
higher/lower). 

Commodity price risk
In the absence of uranium being traded on global futures exchanges, the Company uses a combination of both fixed and market price 
related contracts for future sales to manage this exposure. No financial instruments are used by the Company to manage commodity 
price risk.

Interest rate risk
The Company’s main interest rate risk arises from cash on deposit. When cash is surplus to operational and investing requirements 
it is invested in lump sum deposits to maximise interest received. In addition, the Company is exposed to interest rate risk on cash in 
the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund. 

Credit risk
The Company has policies in place to ensure that sales of products are made to customers with an appropriate credit history. Where 
customers are rated by an independent credit rating agency, these ratings are used to set credit limits. If no independent rating 
exists, the credit quality of the customer is subject to extensive assessment. Letters of credit and other forms of credit insurance are 
also used as required. Derivative counterparties, cash transactions and cash invested through the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund 
are limited to high credit quality financial institutions. The Company has policies that limit the amount of credit exposure to any one 
financial institution. 

TRADE RECEIVABLES

AA

A

BBB

Other

2018 
$’000

-

7,831

-

-

2017 
$’000

-

6,603

-

-

Liquidity and capital risk
ERA’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard ERA’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for 
shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

ERA does not have a target debt to equity ratio, but has a policy of maintaining a flexible financing structure to be able to fund capital 
expenditure programs, pay dividends and fund expansion opportunities as they arise. This policy is balanced against the desire 
to ensure efficiency in the debt/equity structure of ERA’s balance sheet in the longer term through pro-active capital management 
programs.

8080

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD      
NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

The future liquidity and capital requirements of ERA will depend on many factors. As a result of the rehabilitation provision increase, 
ERA is continuing to review all funding options. An inability to obtain sufficient funding would have a material impact on ERA’s 
business, financial performance and assessment as a going concern. Rio Tinto has advised ERA it will work with ERA and its other 
shareholders and stakeholders with the objective of ensuring that ERA is in a position to meet in full the likely future rehabilitation 
requirements of the Ranger Project Area. ERA and Rio Tinto continue to engage in active discussions regarding a funding solution. 

In April 2016, ERA entered into a $100 million credit facility agreement with Rio Tinto. This agreement, whilst still in place is now 
insufficient to meet ERA’s funding shorfall. 

Each year, ERA is required to prepare and submit to the Commonwealth Government an Annual Plan of Rehabilitation. Once 
accepted by the Commonwealth Government, the annual plan is then independently assessed and costed and the amount to be 
provided by ERA into the Ranger Rehabilitation Trust Fund (Trust Fund) is then determined. The Trust Fund includes both cash and 
financial guarantees.

ERA’s ability to continue to access these financial guarantees can be influenced by many factors including future cash balance, cash 
flows and shareholder support. Guarantees are subject to periodic review by the banks. Should the Company at any point be unable 
to access financial guarantees, substantial additional cash would be required to be deposited into the Trust Fund. In the scenario 
where this occurs ERA’s cash reserves available to fund operations would reduce.

ERA currently has no debt and $388 million in total cash resources (comprising $313.7 million of cash on hand or at call and  
$74.7 million invested as part of the Trust Fund).

Fair value estimation
The carrying value less impairment provision of trade receivables and payables is a reasonable approximation of their fair values due 
to the short-term nature of these amounts. 

29  Events occurring after the reporting period
No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial year that have significantly affected, or may significantly affect 
the operations or state of affairs of the Company in subsequent financial years.

30  Share-based payments
ERA participates in a number of share-based payment plans administered by Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited, which are described 
in detail in the Remuneration Report. These plans have been accounted for in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of 
AASB2, ‘Share-based Payment’.

Rio Tinto Performance Share Awards
Rio Tinto Performance Share Awards (PSA) details are described in the Remuneration Report. The awards are accounted for in 
accordance with the requirements applying to equity-settled sharebased payments transactions. The fair value of each award on the 
day of grant is set equal to the share price on the day of grant. No forfeitures are assumed. A summary of the status of shares granted 
under the share plan at 31 December 2018, and changes during the year, is presented below:

BALANCE  
AT START  
OF THE 
YEAR

GRANTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

TRANSFERS 
IN/(OUT)

EXERCISED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

FORFEITED 
DURING 
THE YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

1,058

2,622

(238)

(427)

(188)

2,827

$39.25 

$83.37

$55.24

$34.52

$34.52

$83.61

VESTED AND 
EXER-
CISABLE AT 
END OF  
THE YEAR

-

-

8,412

3,911

(9,223)

(1,092)

(950)

1,058

560

$39.09

$58.16

$48.17

$34.52

$34.52

$39.25

$34.52

2018

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average fair  
value at grant date

2017

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average fair 
value at grant date

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of conditional grants of shares exercised during the year ended  
31 December 2018 was $82.25 (2017: $57.07).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of rights to shares outstanding at the end of the period was five years (2017: two years).

8181

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Where shares are issued to employees of subsidiaries within the Rio Tinto Group, the subsidiaries compensate the parent for the 
amount recognised as expense in relation to these shares.

Share Option Plan
The Share Option Plan was discontinued in 2013 and as such no awards were made. It is policy to settle these awards in equity, 
although the participants at their discretion can be offered a cash alternative. The awards are accounted for in accordance with 
the requirements applying to equity-settled share-based payment transactions. The performance conditions in relation to Total 
Shareholder Return (TSR) have been incorporated in the measurement of fair value for these awards by modelling the correlation 
between Rio Tinto‘s TSR and that of the index. The relationship between Rio Tinto’s TSR and the index was simulated many 
thousands of times to derive a distribution which, in conjunction with the lattice-based option valuation model, was used to determine 
the fair value of the options. Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of Rio Tinto’s share return.

A summary of the status of options granted under the plan at 31 December 2018, and changes during the year, is presented below:

BALANCE  
AT START  
OF THE YEAR

GRANTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

TRANSFERS 
IN/(OUT)

EXERCISED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

FORFEITED 
DURING 
THE YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF 
THE YEAR

VESTED AND 
EXERCISABLE  
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

-

-

1,158

$33.45

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,158)

$33.45

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

2018

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average 
exercise price

2017

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average 
exercise price

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of options exercised during the year ended 31 December 2018 was nil (no 
options were exercised) (2017: nil).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of share options outstanding at the end of the period was 0 years (2017: 0 years).

Where options are issued to employees of subsidiaries within the Rio Tinto Group, the subsidiaries compensate the parent for the 
amount recognised as expense in relation to these options.

8282

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Share Savings Plan
The Share Savings Plan was replaced with the myShare Savings Plan in 2013, and as such no awards were made in 2018. Awards 
under these plans are settled in equity and accounted for accordingly. The fair value of each award on the day of grant was estimated 
using a lattice-based option valuation model, including allowance for the exercise price being at a discount to market price. A 
summary of the status of options granted under the plan at 31 December 2018, and changes during the year, is presented below:

BALANCE  
AT START  
OF THE 
YEAR

-

-                

2,316

$55.62

2018

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average 
exercise price

2017

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average 
exercise price

GRANTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

TRANSFERS 
IN/(OUT)

EXERCISED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

FORFEITED 
DURING 
THE YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF 
THE YEAR

VESTED AND 
EXERCISABLE 
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,059)

(1,257)

$55.62

$55.62

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of conditional grants of shares exercised during the year ended 31 
December 2018 was $Nil (2017: 60.05).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of share options outstanding at the end of the period was 0 years (2017: $0).

Where shares are issued to employees of subsidiaries within the Rio Tinto Group, the subsidiaries compensate the parent for the 
amount recognised as expense in relation to these shares.

myShare Savings Plan
The myShare plan was introduced to all eligible staff members in 2013 and is described in the Remuneration Report. Awards under 
this plan are settled in equity and accounted for accordingly. The fair value of each award on the day of grant is set equal to the share 
price on the day of grant.

A summary of the status of conditional shares granted under the plan at 31 December 2018, and changes during the year, is 
presented below:

BALANCE  
AT START  
OF THE 
YEAR

GRANTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

TRANSFERS 
IN/(OUT)

VESTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

FORFEITED 
DURING 
THE YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

VESTED AND 
EXERCISABLE 
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

16,103

4,987

(111)

(5,405)

(1,507)

14,067

$61.69

$78.80

$62.32

$51.87

$62.32

$78.13

18,486

5,930

(385)

(5,103)

(2,825)

16,103

$50.76

$64.17

$54.79

$54.79

$59.63

$61.69

-

-

-

-

2018

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average 
exercise price

2017

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average 
exercise price

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of conditional grants of shares exercised regularly during the year ended 
31 December 2018 was $78.18 (2017: $65.25). 

The weighted average remaining contractual life of share options outstanding at the end of the period was two years (2017: two 
years).

Where shares are issued to employees of subsidiaries within the Rio Tinto Group, the subsidiaries compensate the parent for the 
amount recognised as expense in relation to these shares.

8383

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

Rio Tinto Management Share Awards
Rio Tinto Management Share Awards (MSA) are described in the Remuneration Report. The awards will be settled in equity including 
the dividends accumulated from date of award to vesting. The awards are accounted for in accordance with the requirements applying 
to equity-settled share-based payment transactions. The fair value of each award on the day of grant is set equal to share price on the 
day of grant. No forfeitures were assumed. A summary of the status of shares granted under the MSA plan at 31 December 2018, and 
changes during the year, is presented below:

BALANCE  
AT START  
OF THE 
YEAR

GRANTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

TRANSFERS 
IN/(OUT)

EXERCISED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

FORFEITED 
DURING 
THE YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

VESTED 
AND EXER-
CISABLE 
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

2018

Rio Tinto Limited

16,246

5,527

(1,708)

(5,096)

Weighted average fair 
value at grant date

2017

$52.75

$81.55

$59.62

$54.02

Rio Tinto Limited

17,238

6,250

(3,222)

(4,020)

Weighted average fair 
value at grant date

$52.50

$59.05

$53.89

$60.57

-

-

-

-

14,969

$62.17

16,246

$52.75

-

-

-

-

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of conditional grants of shares exercised regularly during the year ended 
31 December 2018 was $82.48 (2017: $53.11).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of conditional grants of shares outstanding at the end of the period was two years 
(2017: two years).

Where shares are issued to employees of subsidiaries within the Rio Tinto Group, the subsidiaries compensate the parent for the 
amount recognised as expense in relation to these shares.

Bonus Deferral Awards
The Bonus Deferral Awards (BDA) are described in the Remuneration Report. These awards were established for the mandatory 
deferral of a specific percentage of the Chief Executive’s Short Term Incentive Plan bonus payment into Rio Tinto shares. The vesting 
of these awards is dependent only on service conditions being met. The awards will be settled in equity including the dividends 
accumulated from date of award to vesting. The awards are accounted for in accordance with the requirements applying to equity-
settled share based payment transactions. The fair value of each award on the day of grant is equal to share price on the day of grant 
less a small adjustment for the timing of dividends vesting. No forfeitures are assumed.

BALANCE  
AT START  
OF THE 
YEAR

GRANTED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

TRANSFERS 
IN/(OUT)

EXERCISED 
DURING  
THE YEAR

FORFEITED 
DURING THE 
YEAR

BALANCE  
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

VESTED 
AND  EXER-
CISABLE 
AT END OF  
THE YEAR

-

-

745

$83.39

-

-

2,281

1,187

(3,468)

$48.19

$58.07

$51.88

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

745

$83.39

-

-

-

-

-

-

2018

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average fair 
value at grant date

2017

Rio Tinto Limited

Weighted average fair 
value at grant date

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise of conditional grants of shares exercised during the year ended  
31 December 2018 was $Nil (2017: $53.11). 

8484

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD NOTEs TO THE FINANCIAL sTATEMENTs

The weighted average remaining contractual life of share options outstanding at the end of the period was 2 years (2017: Nil years).

Where shares are issued to employees of subsidiaries within the Rio Tinto Group, the subsidiaries compensate the parent for the 
amount recognised as expense in relation to these shares. 

Expenses arising from share-based payment transactions
Total expenses arising from share-based payment transactions recognised during the period as part of employee benefit expense 
were as follows:

Share based payment expense

2018 
$’000

665

2017 
$’000

697

8585

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD DIRECTOR's DECLARATION

In the Directors’ opinion:

(a)  

 the financial statements and notes set out on pages 50 to 85 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), 
including:

(i) 

(ii)  

 complying with Accounting Standards, the Corporations Regulations 2001 and other mandatory professional  
reporting requirements; and 
 giving a true and fair view of the Company’s financial position as at 31 December 2018 and of its performance for 
the financial year ended on that date; and

(b)  

 there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and 
payable. Note 1 (a) confirms that the financial statements also comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

The Directors have been given the declarations by the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer required by section 295A of the 
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the directors.

P Mansell
Perth

15 February 2019

8686

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR's REPORT

Independent auditor’s report 
To the members of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd 

Report on the audit of the financial report 

Our opinion 

In our opinion: 

The accompanying financial report of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (the Company) is in 
accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including: 

(a) 

giving a true and fair view of the Company's financial position as at 31 December 2018 and of its 
financial performance for the year then ended  

(b) 

complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001.

What we have audited 
The financial report comprises: 

 
 
 
 
 
 

the balance sheet as at 31 December 2018 

the statement of comprehensive income for the year then ended 

the statement of changes in equity for the year then ended 

the cash flow statement for the year then ended 

the notes to the financial statements, which include a summary of significant accounting policies 

the directors’ declaration. 

Basis for opinion 

We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under 
those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
report section of our report. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for 
our opinion. 

Independence 
We are independent of the Company in accordance with the auditor independence requirements of the 
Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical 
Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) that are relevant 
to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities 
in accordance with the Code. 

Material uncertainty related to going concern 

We draw attention to Note 1 in the financial report, which indicates that the Company has a deficiency 
of capital and reserves of $281 million, and it has experienced operating losses and negative cash flows 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, ABN 52 780 433 757
2 Riverside Quay, SOUTHBANK  VIC  3006, GPO Box 1331, MELBOURNE  VIC  3001 
T: 61 3 8603 1000, F: 61 3 8603 1999, www.pwc.com.au 

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. 

8787

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR's REPORT

during the year ended 31 December 2018. As a result the continuing viability of the Company and its 
ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debt and commitments as they fall due is dependent 
upon it being successful in obtaining additional funding support from its shareholders.  These 
conditions, along with other matters set forth in Note 28, indicate that a material uncertainty exists 
that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is 
not modified in respect of this matter. 

Our audit approach 

An audit is designed to provide reasonable assurance about whether the financial report is free from 
material misstatement. Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are considered material if 
individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of 
users taken on the basis of the financial report.  

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an 
opinion on the financial report as a whole, taking into account the geographic and management 
structure of the Company, its accounting processes and controls and the industry in which it operates. 

Materiality 

Audit scope 

  Our audit focused on where the Company made 
subjective judgements; for example, significant 
accounting estimates involving assumptions and 
inherently uncertain future events. 

 

The audit procedures were predominately 
performed at the Company's Darwin office and the 
shared service centre in Brisbane.  

 

For the purpose of our audit we used overall 
materiality of $1.4 million, which represents 
approximately 5% of the Company’s profit/loss 
before tax and averaged for the current and two 
previous years (excluding impairment charges and 
the changes in estimate of rehabilitation provision 
recorded in 2018). 

  We applied this threshold, together with 

qualitative considerations, to determine the scope 
of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of 
our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of 
misstatements on the financial report as a whole. 

  We chose profit before tax because, in our view, it 

is the benchmark against which the performance of 
the Company is most commonly measured.  Due to 
fluctuations in profit and loss from year to year, we 
chose a three year average.  We also adjusted for 
impairment and the changes in estimate of 

8888

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD INDEPENDENT AUDITOR's REPORT

rehabilitation provision recorded in 2018 as they 
are unusual or infrequently occurring items 
impacting profit and loss.  

  We utilised a 5% threshold based on our 

professional judgement, noting it is within the 
range of commonly acceptable thresholds.  

Key audit matters 

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in 
our audit of the financial report for the current period. The key audit matters were addressed in the 
context of our audit of the financial report as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do 
not provide a separate opinion on these matters. Further, any commentary on the outcomes of a 
particular audit procedure is made in that context. We communicated the key audit matters to the 
Audit and Risk Committee. 

In addition to the matter described in the Material uncertainty related to going concern section, we 
have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our 
report.

Key audit matter 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

Accounting for the cost of rehabilitation of the 
Ranger Project Area 
(Refer to notes 16 and 17) $830 million provision 

The Company is required under the Ranger section 41 
Authority (Ranger Authority) to fully rehabilitate the 
Ranger Project Area (RPA) site by January 2026. 

We obtained the Company’s calculation of the 
rehabilitation obligation (the model). We checked the 
timing of the cash flows in the model were consistent 
with the requirements of the Ranger Authority. 

Calculating the final rehabilitation provision requires 
significant estimation and judgement by the Company. 
Assumptions are required to be made in respect of 
methods of rehabilitation, costs and timing, as well as 
the potential for changes in legal requirements, 
technological change and market conditions. The most 
significant components of the provision relate to 
material movement, water treatment, tailings transfer, 
demolition and revegetation.  

We obtained an understanding of the basis of estimate 
for the significant costs within the model and assessed 
the reasonableness of these. 

For significant assumptions within the model we 
compared the provision to the Company’s external 
experts’ estimate of costs and assessed the experts’ 
objectivity, competence and independence. 

During 2018 a feasibility study was completed which 
involved more detailed studies than those completed in 
the past and resulted in an increase to the provision. 
Consideration was required by the Company around 
whether the increase in estimated costs was a change in 
estimate or an error in the previous provision.  

We gained an understanding of the drivers of the 
increase in the provision and assessed the Company’s 
consideration whether the increase was a change in 
estimate or a prior year error. 

We checked that the discount rate used was consistent 
with that generally used in the industry to discount 

8989

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD INDEPENDENT AUDITOR's REPORT

Key audit matter 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

This provision may still change as a result of the 
outcomes of current progressive rehabilitation activity 
and ongoing technical studies. The calculation of the 
provision requires significant input from specialists 
and experts, both within and external to the Company. 

Given the significance of this balance and the factors 
outlined above, the provision for rehabilitation was a 
key audit matter. 

Carrying value assessment for the Jabiluka 
Undeveloped Property 
(Refer to note 12) $90 million carrying value 

Assessing the carrying amount of the Company’s 
Jabiluka Undeveloped Property asset was a key audit 
matter. Factors giving rise to this conclusion included 
the financial size of the balance and the judgement 
required by the Company in the assessment of the 
carrying value as a result of the long-term nature of the 
asset, particularly in relation to: 

liabilities of this type.  

At 30 June 2018 we performed the following 
procedures over the Company’s impairment 
assessment (the model): 

  Compared the long-term forecast uranium 

oxide price and AUD/USD exchange rates to 
market data; 

  Assessed evidence regarding the resource 

  Whether development of the Jabiluka 

including size and grade; 

resource will ultimately proceed given it 
requires the consent of the Mirarr Traditional 
Owners under the Long Term Care and 
Maintenance Agreement; 

 

The long-term uranium oxide price and the 
AUD/USD exchange rate used in the 
probability weighted discounted cash flow 
model to estimate the fair value of the asset. 

The Company identified an impairment in the carrying 
value at 30 June 2018. No further impairment 
indicators were identified by the Company at 31 
December 2018. 

  Assessed determination of production and 

capital costs;  

  Assessed the discount rate; 
 

Tested the mathematical accuracy of the 
model; and 

  Assessed the likelihood of development. 

At 31 December 2018 we performed procedures over 
the assessment of the carrying value, including with 
respect to whether the development will proceed, 
updating our understanding of: 

  Changes in circumstances since the 

 

assessment of carrying value at 30 June 2018; 
The latest long term uranium oxide price and 
AUD/USD exchange rate. 

Having updated our understanding of the above points, 
we considered whether there had been any changes in 
these assumptions which would give rise to an 
impairment indicator.

9090

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD INDEPENDENT AUDITOR's REPORT

Other information 

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the 
information included in the annual report for the year ended 31 December 2018, but does not include 
the financial report and our auditor’s report thereon. 

Our opinion on the financial report does not cover the other information and accordingly we do not 
express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial report, our responsibility is to read the other information 
and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial 
report or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 

If, based on the work we have performed on the other information that we obtained prior to the date of 
this auditor’s report, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we 
are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Responsibilities of the directors for the financial report 

The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a 
true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001
and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the 
financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the ability of the Company 
to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using 
the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to 
cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial report 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free 
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that 
includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an 
audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material 
misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material 
if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial report. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial report is located at the 
Auditing and Assurance Standards Board website at: 
http://www.auasb.gov.au/auditors_responsibilities/ar2.pdf. This description forms part of our 
auditor's report. 

9191

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD INDEPENDENT AUDITOR's REPORT

Report on the remuneration report 

Our opinion on the remuneration report 

We have audited the remuneration report included in pages 26 to 40 of the directors’ report for the 
year ended 31 December 2018. 

In our opinion, the remuneration report of Energy Resources of Australia Ltd for the year ended 31 
December 2018 complies with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001.

Responsibilities 

The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the 
remuneration report in accordance with section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Our responsibility 
is to express an opinion on the remuneration report, based on our audit conducted in accordance with 
Australian Auditing Standards.  

PricewaterhouseCoopers 

Charles Christie 
Partner

Melbourne
15 February 2019

9292

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD sHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd is a for-profit company limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in Australia.

The financial statements were authorised by Directors on 15 February 2019. The Directors have the power to amend and reissue the 
financial statements.

The shareholder information set out below was applicable as at 31 January 2019.

Distribution of equity securities
Analysis of numbers of registered equity security holders by size of holding: 

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 and over

ORDINARY SHARES

NUMBER 
OF SHARE- 
HOLDERS

% OF 
SHARE- 
HOLDERS

6,009

2,633

860

932

75

57.18

25.06

8.18

8.87

0.71

NUMBER 
OF SHARES

1,925,665

6,722,712

6,534,087

25,720,001

476,822,597

10,509

100.00

517,725,062

There were 7,250 holders of less than a marketable parcel of ordinary shares. 

Equity security holders
The names of the twenty largest registered holders of quoted equity securities are listed below: 

Peko Wallsend Ltd

North Limited

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited

J P Morgan Nominees Australia Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited

National Nominees Limited

Miengrove Pty Ltd

Bainpro Nominees Pty Limited

BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd

Mr Li Wan

Ganra Pty Ltd

Mr William Ewart Granter

Mr Colin Charles Stoner

Mrs Qiuyu Ping

CS Third Nominees Pty Limited

John E Gill Trading Pty Ltd

Mr Daniel Gerard Love and Mrs Julie Leanne Love

Neweconomy Com Au Nominees Pty Ltd

Mrs Tew Hua Cameron

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited

NUMBER 
OF SHARES

177,535,718

176,543,136

70,434,486

19,562,891

12,228,348

1,077,011

1,000,000

925,385

895,515

773,265

651,429

610,000

580,786

566,022

559,192

531,000

516,666

491,796

486,000

437,944

% OF 
ISSUED 
SHARES

0.37

1.30

1.26

4.97

92.10

100.00

% OF 
ISSUED 
SHARES

34.29

34.10

13.60

3.78

2.36

0.21

0.19

0.18

0.17

0.15

0.13

0.12

0.11

0.11

0.11

0.10

0.10

0.09

0.09

0.08

9393

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
sHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

Entitlements to vote
Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any shares on a show of hands, every member present in person or 
by proxy or by attorney or by representative and entitled to vote at a shareholders’ meeting shall have one vote.

On a poll, every member present in person or by proxy or by attorney or by representative shall have one vote for each share held by 
him/her.

Annual General Meeting
The next Annual General Meeting will be held at 9:30 am on 10 April 2019 in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Tax file numbers
Tax file numbers or exemption details are recorded from shareholders who wish to provide the information. Dividend advice 
statements, when issued to shareholders, indicate whether or not a shareholder’s tax file number has been recorded. ERA normally 
pays fully franked dividends. In the event of an unfranked dividend being paid, ERA will be required to deduct tax at the top marginal 
rate from the dividend paid to shareholders resident in Australia who have not supplied a tax file number or exemption form.

Information on shareholding
Shareholders who require information about their shareholding or dividend payment should contact ERA’s principal registry.

Shareholders who have changed their address should advise the change in writing to:

ERA Share Registry

Computershare Investor Services Pty Ltd
Level 1, 200 Mary Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Telephone: +61 (0) 3 9473 2500
Facsimile: +61 (0) 3 9415 4000

Sponsored shareholders should note, however, that they should contact their sponsored broker to initiate a change of address.

9494

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
2018 AsX ANNOUNCEMENTs

21 Dec 2018

Change in substantial holding

14 Dec 2018

Response to ASX 3Y Query

06 Dec 2018

Ranger Project Area - closure Feasibility Study update

30 Oct 2018

Resignation and appointment of directors

12 Oct 2018

Change in substantial holding

10 Oct 2018

Quarterly Activities Report

01 Aug 2018

ERA Additional Information for the Financial Community

31 Jul 2018

June 2018 Half Year Results

31 Jul 2018

ASX Interim Report 30 June 2018

11 Jul 2018

June 2018 Quarter Operations Review

20 Jun 2018

Resignation and appointment of directors

24 May 2018

Appointment of Chief Financial Officer

11 Apr 2018

2018 Annual General Meeting - Results of Voting

11 Apr 2018

2018 AGM Chief Executive’s Address

11 Apr 2018

2018 AGM Chairman’s Address

11 Apr 2018

March 2018 Quarter Operations Review

06 Mar 2018

Annual General Meeting Proxy Form

06 Mar 2018

Notice of Annual General Meeting

12 Feb 2018

2017 Annual Report

12 Feb 2018

Appendix 4G

31 Jan 2018

ERA Financial Community Presentation January 2018

30 Jan 2018

Annual Statement of Reserves and Resources

30 Jan 2018

ERA 2017 Full Year Results

30 Jan 2018

Preliminary Final Report

11 Jan 2018

December 2017 Quarter Operations Review

Details of these announcements are available at www.energyres.com.au.

9595

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD TEN yEAR PERFORMANCE

YEAR ENDED  
31 DECEMBER

Sales Revenue ($000)
Earnings Before Interest 
and Tax ($000)
Profit/(Loss) Before Tax 
($000)
Income Tax Expense/
(Benefit) ($000)
Profit/(Loss) After Tax 
($000)
Total Assets ($000)
Shareholders’ Equity ($000)
Long Term Debt ($000)
Current Ratio
Liquid Ratio
Gearing Ratio (%)
Interest Cover (times)
Return on Shareholders’ 
Equity (%)
Earnings Per Share (cents)
Dividends Per Share (cents)

Payout Ratio (%)

Share Price ($) closing
Price-Earning Ratio
Dividend Yield (%)
Net Tangible Assets per 
Share ($)
No. of Employees
Profit After Tax per  
Employee ($000)
Ore Mined (million tonnes)
Ore Milled (million tonnes)
Mill Head Grade (% U3O8)
Mill Recovery (%)
Production (tonnes U3O8) – 
Drummed
Sales – Ranger 
Concentrates (tonnes U3O8)
Sales – Other Concentrates 
(tonnes U3O8)
Sales – Total (tonnes U3O8)

Note 1  

Post rights issue

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

201,273

211,181 267,765 332,777 379,166 356,139 396,629 651,381 572,283 768,297

(466,616)

(52,925) (279,781)

(88,292) (284,274) (199,431) (278,266) (220,633)

47,726 374,737 

(456,323)

(43,532) (271,077)

(79,798) (273,602) (186,541) (254,785) (206,340)

59,427 382,053

(21,049)

-

- 195,695 (85,802)

(50,712)

(36,026)

(52,741)

12,423 109,479

(435,274)

(43,532) (271,077) (275,493) (187,800) (135,829) (218,759) (153,599)

47,004 272,574
635,766 797,312 819,432 1,100,815 1,341,724 1,627,561 1,826,275 1,948,972 1,423,396 1,359,131
(280,790) 154,887 198,559 469,947 745,607 934,022 1,069,619 1,288,536 951,076 966,574
-
-
3.1
4.1
2.2
2.7
-
-
33.5
-

-
4.0
2.9
-
(156.7)

-
7.1
6.0
-
(177.9)

-
3.4
2.1
-
47.8

-
4.0
3.0
-
-

-
3.8
2.3
-
-

-
2.5
1.9
-
-

-
3.2
2.5
-
-

-
4.0
3.1
-
-

155.0
(84.1)
-

-

0.25
(0.29)
-

(0.54)
355

(28.1)
(8.4)
-

-

0.91
(10.83)
-

(136.5)
(52.4)
-

-

0.44
(0.83)
-

0.30
358

0.38
356

(58.6)
(53.2)
-

-

0.36
(0.68)
-

0.91
374

(25.2)
(36.3)
-

-

1.30
(3.58)
-

(14.5)
(26.2)
-

-

1.26
(4.81)
-

1.44 
389

1.80
519

(20.5)
(42.3)
-

-

1.27
(3.00)
-

2.07
594

(1,226.1)
-
2.5
0.9
86.6

(121.6)
-
2.6
0.10
84.7

(761.5)
-
2.7
0.10
84.9

(736.6)
-
2.5
0.10
82.0

(482.8)
-
1.3
0.11 
81.5

(264.8)
-
2.3
0.15
84.8

(374.5)
3.8
2.6
0.17
86.2

(11.9)
(29.7)1
-

-

1.23
(2.54)
-

2.49
567

(270.9)
1.2
1.6
0.18
87.9

4.9
24.6
8.0

32

11.13
45.24
2.96

4.99
523

89.87
1.4
2.4
0.19
87.2

31.6
142.9
39.0

27

23.89
16.72
1.42

5.07
521

523.17
2.2
2.3
0.26
88.3

1,999

2,294

2,351

2,005

1,165

2,960

3,710

2,641

3,793

5,240

1,467

2,089

2,130

2,183

2,164

2,767

2,665

3,258

4,373

5,497

-

-

9

-

984

48

558

1,467

2,089

2,139

2,183

3,148

2,815

3,223

1,908

5,167

653

–

5,026

5,497

Definition of statistical ratios

Current Ratio  
Liquid Ratio    
foreign exchange  
Gearing Ratio   
Interest Cover   
Return on Shareholders’ Equity 

Earnings per Share   

= 
= 

= 
= 
= 

= 

current assets/current liabilities
(current assets-inventory-prepayments-foreign exchange hedge asset on borrowings)/(current liabilities-bank overdraft – 
hedge liability)
(long term debt + term creditors)/(shareholders’ equity + long term debt + term creditors)
earnings before interest and tax/interest expense
profit after tax/average shareholders’ equity 

profit after tax/weighted average number of shares issued

9696

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEX

2018 Announcements

2018 ERA Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

Balance Sheet

Business Strategy

Cash Flow Statement

Chairman’s Report

Chief Executive’s Report

Company Overview

Corporate Governance Statement

Director’s Declaration

Director’s Report

Financial Performance

Future Supply

Health and Safety

Independent Auditor’s Report

Notes to the Financial Statements

Operations and Rehabilitation

Regulatory Framework

Sales and Marketing

Shareholder Information

Statement of Changes in Equity

Statement of Comprehensive Income

Ten Year Performance

95

13

43

51

9

53

2

3

4

44

86

20

5

12

16

87

54

6

18

15

93

52

50

96

HEAD OFFICE

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9797

ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD ENERGY RESOURCES OF AUSTRALIA LTD energyres.com.au