Thanks for this clear explanation of the situation. I would like to know more about the opportunity for Uranium exploration and mining here in the USA. Does it have any future or is the permitting and regulatiory situation impossible to penetrate? Do you think there will ever be a day when private financing will return to a US based supply chain from mining through enrichment to use in Combined Heat and Power facilities here in the USA? I am also following the SMR space. Anything you could provide with regard to that developing space would be much appreciated.
The U.S. has a couple operating uranium mines in Utah and Arizona (Energy Fuels is the company). There are a lot of uranium reserves in the United States, we've just made the political/market decision not to mine it and instead buy it more cheaply from overseas. That said, if the recent spike in uranium prices remains it could result in more mines opening up in the U.S.
If Cdn reactors, "due to their unique design", don't need Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), what do they use? And is it cheaper to process than LEU - and much more likely cheaper than HALEU?
It is primarily unenriched natural uranium combined with other nuclear materials. They use heavy water in the reactor which is different than most other designs. Canada designed it in part as they did not have access to enrichment capabilities after WWII. The fuel is much cheaper given the lack of enrichment need.
I will do my best to expand on the subject since the author has done a great job! This notice of a nuclear renaissance needs to be viewed in perspective. First their is not going to be a prefiltration of nuclear, which is not the same as nuclear growth. Nuclear generation will grow in countries where historical they have not been a part of the energy mix-we already see it in the Middle East, African, & Asian countries, more centralized control governments-China, where we see the most growth, and low populated countries where an additional reactor makes a huge difference-see Finland. Japan is an outliner but as of right now on paper the don't have many nuclear reactor plants because they shut it down, if and when they return to full capacity, it will appear like a renaissance. Secondly countries that already have a large nuclear fleet-like Unites States, Canada, & France-have already have the amount of nuclear that their society wants and can afford. Think about it will America be able to build out another 99 reactors, no it could barely do one! Many reason why this is the case but ultimately it's cost. Thirdly countries will maintain there fleets the sunken capital force policy makers to use these investments for as long as they can-no growth here just maintain. Look at all the countries extending or bring back the life of their nuclear fleet. Fourthly, we already have SMR, they are called submarines with a track record of safety that should make any regulate happy. What we are doing is making it more difficult than it has to be and more expensive. If the fuel cycle is a problem then just import CANDU reactors, we have the tech and infrastructure to do these things now.
Thanks for this clear explanation of the situation. I would like to know more about the opportunity for Uranium exploration and mining here in the USA. Does it have any future or is the permitting and regulatiory situation impossible to penetrate? Do you think there will ever be a day when private financing will return to a US based supply chain from mining through enrichment to use in Combined Heat and Power facilities here in the USA? I am also following the SMR space. Anything you could provide with regard to that developing space would be much appreciated.
Keep up the good work
The U.S. has a couple operating uranium mines in Utah and Arizona (Energy Fuels is the company). There are a lot of uranium reserves in the United States, we've just made the political/market decision not to mine it and instead buy it more cheaply from overseas. That said, if the recent spike in uranium prices remains it could result in more mines opening up in the U.S.
Here is a quick link to EIA data on uranium mining in the U.S. -- https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=60160
I'll add this issue to my list of future topics. Thanks!
If Cdn reactors, "due to their unique design", don't need Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), what do they use? And is it cheaper to process than LEU - and much more likely cheaper than HALEU?
It is primarily unenriched natural uranium combined with other nuclear materials. They use heavy water in the reactor which is different than most other designs. Canada designed it in part as they did not have access to enrichment capabilities after WWII. The fuel is much cheaper given the lack of enrichment need.
I will do my best to expand on the subject since the author has done a great job! This notice of a nuclear renaissance needs to be viewed in perspective. First their is not going to be a prefiltration of nuclear, which is not the same as nuclear growth. Nuclear generation will grow in countries where historical they have not been a part of the energy mix-we already see it in the Middle East, African, & Asian countries, more centralized control governments-China, where we see the most growth, and low populated countries where an additional reactor makes a huge difference-see Finland. Japan is an outliner but as of right now on paper the don't have many nuclear reactor plants because they shut it down, if and when they return to full capacity, it will appear like a renaissance. Secondly countries that already have a large nuclear fleet-like Unites States, Canada, & France-have already have the amount of nuclear that their society wants and can afford. Think about it will America be able to build out another 99 reactors, no it could barely do one! Many reason why this is the case but ultimately it's cost. Thirdly countries will maintain there fleets the sunken capital force policy makers to use these investments for as long as they can-no growth here just maintain. Look at all the countries extending or bring back the life of their nuclear fleet. Fourthly, we already have SMR, they are called submarines with a track record of safety that should make any regulate happy. What we are doing is making it more difficult than it has to be and more expensive. If the fuel cycle is a problem then just import CANDU reactors, we have the tech and infrastructure to do these things now.