Rio Tinto's ERA predicts a recovery in uranium output up to 3,700/t in 2012

Rio Tinto's Energy Resources of Australia expects uranium output in 2012 to recover to among 3,000 and 3,700 tonnes after mining interruption drove it to a A$154 million ($164 million) loss in 2011.ERA's shares, which have tumbled 78 percent over the past year due to the company's production problems and wider concern afflict uranium stocks post Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster last March, were down 7 percent by early afternoon.

Production was suspended for five months last year at ERA's Ranger mine, which in previous years abounding as much as 10 percent of the world's uranium, due to heavy rains in Australia's tropical north.The result was a 30 percent decline in generally production in 2011 to 2,641 tonnes against its 2010 tally.

It also said it purchased 2,126 tonnes of uranium on the stain market, of which 1,636 tonnes was sold in 2011. Shared with inventory management and uranium loans, this enabled the company to meet all its sales commitments.ERA warned in January that creation may be hit again this year as rain had delayed access to high grade uranium-bearing ore.