Paladin Energy Ltd., the Australian producer of uranium in Namibia, rose to the highest in more than a week on speculation prices for the metal may rally as Cameco Corp., the biggest producer, faces potential delays at a mine.

Paladin, based in Perth, advanced 38 cents, or 7.7 percent, to A$5.35 in Sydney trading, building on yesterday's 7.8 percent increase. Energy Resources of Australia Ltd., owner of the producing Ranger uranium mine, and explorers Curnamona Energy Ltd., Bannerman Resources Ltd. and PepinNini Minerals Ltd. also rose.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based Cameco said Aug. 12 it stopped pumping out water from the flooded No. 1 shaft of its Cigar Lake mine after the pumps were overwhelmed. The mine, due to start production in 2011, is the world's largest untapped deposit of uranium,

"Further delays are likely to put upward pressure on spot and contract uranium prices in the near term in our view.'' UBS AG said in an Aug. 13 report. "We expect Paladin and the other uranium miners to benefit from the potential for contract and spot uranium prices to improve.''

Darwin-based Energy Resources, controlled by Rio Tinto Group, rose 69 cents, or 3.7 percent, to A$19.52 in Sydney, after gaining 4.6 percent yesterday. Curnamona Energy gained 20 percent, while Bannerman advanced 7.3 percent and PepinNini 10 percent.