SYDNEY, June 26 -- Global miner BHP Billiton (BHP.AX: Quote)(BLT.L: Quote) is looking to sell its Yabulu and Ravensthorpe nickel operations in Australia as a package, the Australian Financial Review reported on Friday.

The paper said BHP would complete a review of Yabulu next week, with Xstrata plc (XTA.L: Quote) and Gladstone Pacific Nickel seen front-runners to buy the operation.

A review of Ravensthorpe, which was closed down earlier this year amid a sharp decline in nickel prices, would run until the end of the year, but a sale could come earlier, the paper said, citing a source close to BHP.

(Source: Reuters)