Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia has shrugged off operational difficulties experienced in the first half of 2006 and posted record quarterly production.

ERA produced a record 1,662 tonnes of uranium in the fourth quarter of 2006 from its Ranger mine in the Northern Territory.

The figure is a three per cent increase on the previous fourth quarter in 2005 and a 51 per cent increase on the third quarter of 2006.

The uranium miner attributed the record production performance to sustained mill throughput and a higher head grade.

Production during the first half of the year was impacted by heavy rainfall from tropical cyclone Monica and difficulties with the acid plant after a planned maintenance shutdown.

Uranium production for 2006 came in at 4,748 tonnes, 20 per cent lower than the 2005 figure of 5,910 tonnes, which was impacted by an elevated water level in the pit following high rainfall.