Thursday, August 17 2006 15:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Melbourne: The Bush administration has said it may support Australia developing its uranium industry as the country is 'reliable' and 'trustworthy'.

A senior US official said, despite a White House policy to restrict additions to the world nuclear club, 'special rules' would be applied for Australia and Canada.

"Obviously you are the two countries that have the majority of economically recoverable uranium resources," Dennis Spurgeon, assistant secretary for nuclear power in the US told The Australian newspaper.

"I think Australia is viewed as a totally reliable and trustworthy country, so I don't think there is any issue there whatsoever," he said.

Australia is currently exploring the possibility of nuclear energy, with a prime ministerial task force appointed to look into uranium enrichment as well as economic viability of nuclear power stations in the country.

Last year, the Bush administration unveiled the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, which is designed to restrict the number uranium enriching countries to existing players such as the US, Britain, China, Russia and France.