Uranium: Resources, Sustainability and Environment

Abstract

No matter which technical solutions are chosen to take nuclear power further, the basic raw material is likely to be readily available at a competitive cost. Identified world uranium resources currently stand at very safe levels, despite little exploration expenditure in recent years. These greatly understate, however, the volume of uranium which could be available if required. This provides reassurance that even ignoring any excess inventories or recycling of various materials, expanding nuclear electricity generation throughout the next century could be fuelled solely by mined supply. It is, however, unlikely that this will happen, as recycled materials will play an important part. One route to overcoming concerns about residual materials from the nuclear fuel cycle is to emphasise their potential economic value, which may provide a further boost to nuclear power as a route to environmentally sustainable development.