Australia wants more uranium from BHP

CANBERRA, Australia, July 19 (UPI) -- Australia is pushing mining giant BHP Billiton to sharply increase its uranium production to respond to growing global demand.

BHP acquired got the world's largest uranium deposit, Olympic Dam, in its $9.2 billion takeover of WMC Resources, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported Tuesday.

The government is trying to arrange a deal to sell uranium to China within 12 months, an arrangement that depends on BHP sharply boosting output.

Meanwhile, BHP is evaluating a $5 billion expansion of Olympic Dam. The plans call for an increase in uranium production from about 4,500 tons a year to as much as to 15,000 tons a year.