Sinohydro Corp., China's leading hydraulic construction contractor announced it has secured a 140 million U.S. dollar uranium mine construction deal in Niger with China Nuclear International Uranium Corp. (SinoUranium).

The contract calls for building a uranium mine with annual output of 600,000 tons, a coal-fired power plant and a hydrometallurgy plant in the African country, Sinohydro said in a statement on its website.

It was the first time the two Beijing-based state-owned firms have teamed in developing a strategic resource overseas, it said. Uranium is the basic fuel for nuclear reactors.

It was also the first such move taken by the two since they signed a strategic agreement with Export-Import Bank of China in March with a view of investing in overseas uranium exploration and production projects.

The construction will last 900 days.

The project owner is Azelik Mining Industry Co., a joint venture created last year by the Niger government and its Chinese partners.

SinoUranium, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corp., holds a 37.2percent stake of the firm, Beijing Zxjoy Technology and Trade Co. 24.8 percent, and the Niger government 33 percent, according to its website.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)