A Challenge for the Nascent Nuclear Energy Renaissance: Harnessing the Dynamics at Play in the Uranium Mining and Fuel Supply and Enrichment Sector

The Fasken Annual Seminar Series
Monday, March 04, 2024
8:00 am - 9:00 am ET
Event Details
There is growing interest in nuclear energy as part of the solution in addressing climate change. There are an increasing number of new nuclear power energy projects announced or underway in Canada and internationally, both larger projects and many SMRs. One of the key challenges facing any of these projects will be access to sufficient, accessible sources of uranium fuel and associated fabrication and enrichment services, for use in any reactor. Many commentators predict a looming shortage of enriched uranium. Even today, well over a year since the advent of the war in Ukraine, almost half of the uranium enrichment capacity of the world remains in Russia. Most of the fabrication and enrichment capacity in the United States remains mothballed. Existing nuclear power plant operators are seeking supply from safe sources not subject to risk of sanction. All future nuclear power projects in various stages of development will need access to safe and secure supplies of fuel. This panel will discuss the dynamics at play including new uranium mining projects under development, plans for expansion and growth by existing operators and challenges in addressing the lack of fuel fabrication and enrichment capacity at present, all under a way in the hopes of taking advantage of the nascent nuclear renaissance and supply safe and secure uranium to many of these planned and future projects.

There is growing interest in nuclear energy as part of the solution in addressing climate change. There are an increasing number of new nuclear power energy projects announced or underway in Canada and internationally, both larger projects and many SMRs. One of the key challenges facing any of these projects will be access to sufficient, accessible sources of uranium fuel and associated fabrication and enrichment services, for use in any reactor. Many commentators predict a looming shortage of enriched uranium. Even today, well over a year since the advent of the war in Ukraine, almost half of the uranium enrichment capacity of the world remains in Russia. Most of the fabrication and enrichment capacity in the United States remains mothballed. Existing nuclear power plant operators are seeking supply from safe sources not subject to risk of sanction. All future nuclear power projects in various stages of development will need access to safe and secure supplies of fuel. This panel will discuss the dynamics at play including new uranium mining projects under development, plans for expansion and growth by existing operators and challenges in addressing the lack of fuel fabrication and enrichment capacity at present, all under a way in the hopes of taking advantage of the nascent nuclear renaissance and supply safe and secure uranium to many of these planned and future projects.

Monday, March 04, 2024
8:00 am - 9:00 am ET
THIS PROGRAM HAS CONCLUDED