By Greg Peel

It's been an eventful year in the global uranium market.

The year began with the globally significant Ranger mine in the Northern Territory shutting down due to flooding, and there is still no guarantee operator Energy Resources of Australia ((ERA)) will decide the veteran mine can be commercial from here on. ERA needs to sort out the costly business of ensuring water management for the future of the open cut mine and whether or not it will proceed with the planned underground Ranger Deeps project. Resistance from the local indigenous population remains an issue, as is the case with ERA's seemingly pie in the sky hopes for its Jabiluka prospect in the Kakadu National Park.

ERA is 67% owned by global diversified mining giant Rio Tinto ((RIO)), and Rio's Rossing mine in Namibia is also in decline. Paladin Energy's ((PDN)) neighbouring Langer Heinrich and Kayakeleera mines are world-class, but Paladin has been beset by problems and delays in its Langer expansion and Kaya ramp-up.

Rio's rival BHP Billiton ((BHP)) has grand plans to expand uranium mining at its Olympic Dam project.