Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. (ERA.AU) on Friday met analysts' forecasts with a 23% rise in annual profit, boosted by higher uranium contract prices.

It forecast 2010 production, sales and average realized sale prices to be "broadly similar" to 2009.

The Darwin-based uranium miner, 68%-owned by Rio Tinto Ltd. (RIO.AU), booked a net profit for the year to Dec. 31 of A$272.6 million. The average forecast of five analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires was for a profit of A$270.9 million.

ERA owns the Ranger mine in Australia's Northern Territory, which in 2008 was the second largest producing uranium mine in the world, according to the World Nuclear Association.

The company declared a final dividend of 25 cents per share, up from 20 cents in 2008.

Earlier this month, ERA said annual 2009 production fell 2% on year to 5,240 tons but sales rose 4% to 5,497 tons as the company drew on stockpiled ore.

Revenue totaled A$780.6 million in 2009, up 13% from A$691.8 million in 2008.

-By Ross Kelly, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-2-8272-4692; ross.kelly@dowjones.com

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