spot price falls to new post-fukishima low, page-31

The $17billion is the sales revenue from the mine:

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/bhp-plans-big-new-wa-uranium-mine-at-yeelirrie/story-e6frg13u-1225714666202

"BHP Billiton said it planned to produce an average of 5000 tonnes of uranium a year from the deposit for more than 30 years.

At current prices, that would translate into revenue of more than $US13 billion ($17billion) over its life."

But in 2010 BHP said the mine was uneconomic to heap leaching and maybe the reason they sold it.

Also the local land owners are against the mine:

Traditional owner opposes Yeelirrie development: A traditional owner is planning to step up protests against uranium mining at Yeelirrie, near Wiluna. Kado Muir says the new owners of the Yeelirrie deposit in the Goldfields will have a tough time trying to develop a mine at the site. BHP Billiton has announced it is selling the deposit to Canadian-based Cameco. The Minister for Mines, Norman Moore, has welcomed the deal saying Cameco is more likely to develop a mine at the site. Mr Muir says he is concerned about the change of ownership. "With Cameco in place, it does cause quite a bit of concern for us because they are a company who will seek to develop the mine as quickly and as soon as they can," he said. "That just adds impetus to our campaign to ensure that WA remains a uranium-free state." (ABC Aug. 28, 2012)