Varying views raise fear: is there enough uranium

Journal Article · Mon May 16 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:7218984

Beiser, M

If President Carter's assumption that we have enough uranium supplies to last into the next century is wrong, then deferment of the breeder reactor and fuel recycling may cause serious power shortages. The expected growth of nuclear energy's share from eight percent to a third of the power generation was planned with the breeder and fuel-recycling programs in mind. Estimations of uranium reserves vary among the companies, who foresee depletion as early as the 1980s and as late as 2050. A full report of the National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) is due in 1983 with an assessment of the extent and location of reserves and of the new technology for exploring and developing uranium. Interim reports list probable, possible, and speculative reserves at both $15 and $30 per pound. Critics of the estimates include the Ford Foundation, which feels higher prices will lead to expanded exploration and reserves. Other NURE critics point out the possibility of switching to light water reactors, the failure of ERDA exploratory drilling programs to locate new reserves, and the government's plans to build more reactors than can be fueled. Coal-fired plants are considered by some to be the answer to a potential uranium shortfall. The recent jump in uranium prices from $8 to nearly $40 a pound had little effect on electricity prices and led to concern over a possible uranium cartel. (DCK)

• OSTI ID: 7218984
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Journal Name: Energy User News; (United States) Vol. 2:19; ISSN EUSND
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BREEDER REACTORS
CHARGES
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY DEMAND
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SUPPLIES
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EXPLORATION
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FBR TYPE REACTORS
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FORECASTING
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MARKET
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR FUELS
POWER
POWER GENERATION
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
RESERVES
RESOURCES
URANIUM RESERVES