Dean Dalla Valle, chief operating officer of BHP’s Australian uranium unit, said: “Obviously, we see China as a growing market for us and we would expect to have sales to them in the near future.”
As part of its takeover of WMC Resources, BHP has been studying for the potential expansion of Olympic Dam that was bought in 2005, which also produces copper and gold.
Dalla Valle, about the Yeelirrie venture in Western Australia state, informed that the company is seeking for government approvals for a mine and is drilling to clarify the extension of the uranium deposit at the mine. The construction at its Yeelirrie uranium project is expected to begin in 2011 and the production at the project would begin by 2014. Within a year, the government Environmental Impact Statement on Olympic Dam would be issued.
The company, from its existing underground operation at the Olympic Dam, produces uranium, copper and gold. Its operations would be converted into an open pit, through a proposed $15 billion expansion plan.
