Mr. Sun Qin, Chairman of CAEA met with a delegation led by Mr. John Croft, Chief Business Officer of uranium mining of BHP Billiton Group, and exchanged views on possible cooperation in copper-uranium concentrate separation related to the Olympic Dam expansion program.

After Mr. John Croft briefed on the basic situation of the expansion program, Mt. Sun said that as the competent authority in China’s nuclear industry, CAEA supported enterprises of China and Australia to carry out cooperation in uranium resources and hoped that a cooperation plan could be developed after a comprehensive assessment from the economic and environment protection perspective.

Mr. Croft stated that the program was beneficial to both sides and would play an active role in curbing global climate change. BHP Billion would make endeavors to know more about relevant policies laid down by the governments of the two countries and international treaties concerned. A feasibility study would also be done to push forward the cooperation program.

BHP Billiton founded in 1885 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, is the world’s largest mining company. It occupies industry leader or near industry leader in major commodity businesses, including coal, iron ore, copper, steel, etc. in 2001, BHP Billiton was created through merger of BHP limited and Billiton Plc. It is now the third largest supplier of iron ore. The Company has businesses ties with China dating back to over a hundred years ago, and now the businesses scope covers transactions of mining products, exploration of minerals and marine and land petroleum.