BHP Billiton creates new uranium unit

SYDNEY - BHP Billiton said Wednesday it has reshuffled its management team following the appointment of Marius Kloppers as chief executive, effective Oct 1, and has put emphasis on expanding its Olympic Dam copper/uranium project in South Australia. BHP, the world's largest diversified resources group, gained ownership of the project via its 2005 takeover of WMC Resources Ltd for 9.2 billion Australian dollars. It gave the group exposure to the uranium industry for the first time. Since then BHP has been fast-tracking the expansion of Olympic Dam which contains more than a third of the world's known uranium resources. BHP said Graeme Hunt, currently president of the group's aluminium group, will assume the role of president of a newly created uranium and Olympic Dam development group. The uranium group will be separated from BHP's base metals customer service group. "The separation reflects the importance of both the asset and the expansion project in BHP Billiton's project pipeline and is recognition of the growing market for uranium to help meet the world's energy needs," BHP said in a statement. Alberto Calderon, president of BHP's diamonds and specialty products division, will join the group's management team.