Uranium 101

U308 Global Supply And Demand*

• Uranium demand growing by an average of 5.2% per year during the next 20 years, due to the higher non-mine supply availability from the U.S Government. New reactors will take many years to permit and build; however, demand for material will precede reactor commissioning by many years.
• Supply of uranium is forecast to grow by an average of 5.6% annually until 2013.
• Announcements continue to be made by governments and companies around the world regarding potential new nuclear plants. Trend will likely continue as nuclear power continues to be seen as a clean alternative for base load generation.
• Forecasting a balanced core uranium market from 2009 to 2017 and deficits thereafter.

Global U308 Demand/Supply Balance and U308 Price*

U308 & Canada**

• Nuclear energy is North America’s largest source of emission free energy
• Nuclear power contributes to 14.6% of Canada’s energy power consumption
• Nuclear energy is a highly economical and energy efficient source
• In 2007, the uranium mines in Saskatchewan accounted for approximately 22% of the world’s total uranium production. Canada’s uranium mining industry in 2007 had sales in the order of $1.1 billion dollars per year.
• Uranium is used primarily in nuclear power reactors for the production of electricity. About 85% of our uranium production is exported to countries around the world, solely for peaceful uses.
• Canada has 60 years of experience in nuclear energy, a $5 billion industry in Canada employing 30,000 workers in over 150 firms. Nuclear energy contributes $2 billion to Canada’s GDP, with exports of $1.2 billion in 2002. Atomic energy of Canada (aecl) is a leading exporter of nuclear reactors worldwide. Since 1990, aecl has successfully built six nuclear reactors.

 U308 & Global Market***

• As of June 2008 there were 439 nuclear power reactors operating in 35 countries around the world producing about 15.0 % of the world’s electricity.
• 439 operable reactors
• 36 under construction
• 93 planned
• 218 proposed
• China has 11 reactors in production and another 26 in planning (2009 figures)
• Nuclear power now produces nearly 15.2 % of the world’s electricity supply, and is an important alternative to fossil fuels.
• Visit http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/reactors.htm to see all reactors in production/planned for major countries worldwide.

 
Related Websites
World Nuclear Organization
The Ux Consulting Company
Canadian Nuclear Association
International Atomic Energy Association
Nuclear Energy Institute

*Source:  RBC Capital Markets - Uranium Market Outlook (First Quarter 2009)
**Source:  Canadian Nuclear Association
***Source: World Nuclear Association