Mumbai: The South Australian government has approved a rectification plan for uranium miner Marathon, involving the clean-up of three areas where it dumped drill cuttings and other waste.

Marathon has pointed out the shortcomings in corporate culture in its annual statement and the South Australian government has pulled up the miner for dumping 46 tonnes of exploration waste in an environmentally sensitive wilderness sanctuary in Mt Gee.

Marathon has apologised for its actions in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges and plans to begin clean-up of the site as soon as next week.

Chairman Peter Williams said the company had had no permission to bury the waste, including plastic bags, goggles and overalls in drill holes.

The clean-up is expected to take about 11 weeks, according to the company and the government is unlikely to grant mining rights to an environmentally sensitive zone.

The drilling site on Mt Gee is a Class-A environmental zone is expected to hold 30,000 tonnes of uranium where mining is not allowed unless there is an over-riding national or state interest.

Marathon claims the large reserves qualify the mine for exploration even as the project faces tough opposition from environmental groups and the owners of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

Mining in the area is opposed by sanctuary owners who claim it  inappropriate for and sensitive ecological area.

South Australian mineral resources minister Paul Holloway said Marathon's problems would not be over even if it successfully completes the clean-up.