Australia should be looking to sell more uranium to China as the Asian powerhouse expands its nuclear energy program, Australian Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said on Friday.
"The expansion of the nuclear industry here in China opens up new resource opportunities for Australia from the point of view of uranium mining," Ferguson told ABC Radio.
On a ministerial visit to Beijing, Ferguson said his discussions with Chinese companies have revealed they wanted more Australian uranium.
"There has been considerable exploration across Australia in terms of the uranium industry in recent years and it will expand ... at a time at which we expect an increased demand for uranium internationally," Ferguson said.
Ferguson was quick to point out Australian uranium could not be used by China to build weapons. It was sold on the basis it could only be used for "civil industry purposes" and not stockpiled, Ferguson said.
The resources minister has also acknowledged Chinese companies had holdings in uranium companies in Australia.
"They're not actively mining at the moment but there's nothing to prevent that company moving forward to a mining operation," Ferguson said.
Source:Xinhua
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