A look at the future for uranium

Journal Article · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1973 · Nucl. Can., v. 12, no. 2, pp. 5-7

OSTI ID:4350411

Runnals, O J.C.

It is predicted that there will be a world shortage of uranium by the early 1980's, unless exploration is expedited. Exploration in Canada has virtually ceased. It is assumed that most reactors to be built during the next decade will be of the BLW or PLW types, requiring enriched fuel that will be irradiated to about 30 GW days/ tonne U. The main source of this enriched uranium will be the U. S. diffusion plants. It is estimated that total non-Communist net nuclear electrical output will increase from 19 GW in 1970 to 308 in 1980. Canadian requirements of uranium are predicted to increase only from 1% to 2% of the non-Communist total, between 1970 and 1990. Non-Communist proven and probable reserves of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/, exploitable at a cost of less than per lb of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/, are each estimated at about 1 million tons (23% in Canada). Cumulative non-Communist demand will by l985 have equailed the proven reserves exploitable at a cost of less than per ton of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/. Proven reserves exploitable at to per ton of U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ only amount to about another 0.75 million tons. (CA)

• Research Organization: Dept. of Energy, Mines, and Resources, Ottawa
• NSA Number: NSA-29-017743
• OSTI ID: 4350411
• Journal Information: Nucl. Can., v. 12, no. 2, pp. 5-7, Journal Name: Nucl. Can., v. 12, no. 2, pp. 5-7; ISSN NUCAB
• Country of Publication: Canada
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*ENRICHED URANIUM-- ECONOMICS
*URANIUM OXIDES U3O8-- ECONOMICS
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COST
ELECTRIC POWER
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N79600* --Reactors--Reactor Fuel Cycle Economics
POWER REACTORS
U3O8
URANIUM MINERALS
USA