Uranium: Politics, politics, politics

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Engineering and Mining Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6447744

Pool, T C

The world uranium market became much more complex in 1992 when actions of the US Dept. of Commerce resulted in the development of a two-tiered pricing system. These governmental actions severely restrict uranium imports from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) into the United States. Consequently, prices in the restricted US market have increased modestly, to about $10/lb U[sub 3]O[sub 8], while non-US prices have declined slightly to somewhat less than $8/lb U[sub 3]O[sub 8]. World uranium production, which is becoming increasingly well-defined as additional information trickles out of the former Eastern Bloc, declined by about 12% from 1991 levels, to 93.4 million lb U[sub 3]O[sub 8]. Consumption remained steady at 145 million lb/yr U[sub 3]O[sub 8]. This growing supply-demand gap would auger well for the uranium industry were it not for a substantial overhang of excess inventory and potential additions from nuclear disarmament. A reasonable supply-demand balance is unlikely to occur before the turn of the century. The effects of weapons conversion on the uranium market are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6447744
• Journal Information: Engineering and Mining Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Engineering and Mining Journal; (United States) Vol. 194:3; ISSN 0095-8948; ISSN ENMJAK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

051000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
ACTINIDES
DEMAND FACTORS
ELEMENTS
FORECASTING
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INVENTORIES
MARKET
METALS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PRICES
PRODUCTION
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
URANIUM