CANBERRA, Australia, March 31 (UPI) -- Australia is some time away from being able to supply with China with uranium under a deal signed being worked out by the two sides, a top official Friday.
"China is expected to be importing 20,000 tons of uranium within 10 years, which gives us a great opportunity to supply that demand if we can finalize an agreement," Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane said. "But turning the agreement into firm mines will take some time."
His comments were reported Saturday in the Australian newspaper.
Macfarlane said there was unlikely to be a new uranium mine in Australia before the end of this decade.
The two nations are working on the details of a deal under which Australia will sell China uranium for its nuclear industry. China is looking to diversify its energy resources in the face of growing demands and an ever-expanding economy.
Australia rejected a similar deal with India earlier this year because New Delhi is not a part of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. India has, however, signed a civilian nuclear deal with the United States.
