Why Should you Invest in Uranium Now?
Important Facts about Uranium
FACT:
Uranium is the fuel used by nuclear reactors to generate
18% of the world's electricity.
FACT:
Uranium is an extremely concentrated and efficient fuel,
much more so than oil or coal. The following table shows
the extent to which this is true:
Energy Source |
Electricity Produced |
||
1 kg of firewood |
1 kwh |
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FACT:
Uranium fuel accounts for only 2% to 5% of the operating
costs associated with generating nuclear power. A price
increase in uranium would therefore have little impact
on production costs.
FACT:
The 1997 Kyoto Protocol called for significant reductions
in worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. Currently coal,
gas and oil account for 63% of the world's energy
demands. Since nuclear power is the cleanest form of
energy available, it can be expected to play a growing
role in helping nations achieve their emission reduction
targets.
FACT:
Last year (2004), well-known British environmentalist
James Lovelock (best known for his "Gaia Theory"
and his role in the start of the green movement) had
this to say: "I wholly support the green wish
to see all energy eventually come from renewable sources,
but I do not think that we have the time to wait until
this happens. Nuclear is the only energy source that
we could apply in time to offset the threat from accumulating
greenhouse gases. Its worldwide use as our main source
of energy would pose an insignificant threat compared
with the dangers of intolerable and lethal heat waves
and sea levels rising to drown every coastal city of
the world." He said that nuclear power plants
are needed to prevent the awful toll that the burning
of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and to some extent natural
gas) will cause over the next century.
FACT:
President Bush, as part of his new energy bill, is calling
for the construction of more nuclear power plants, the
first sought in the Untied States since the 1970's.
He acknowledges that coal-burning power plants contribute
to global warming, and said that nuclear plants, which
do not directly release greenhouse gases, may be part
of the solution. Power plants that consume fossil fuels
account for 40% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Currently,
the U.S gets 20% of its electricity from nuclear power
with 103 commercial nuclear reactors operating in 31
states.
FACT:
Nuclear energy has many advantages. It has received
a bad rap from some misinformed press and others with
their own political agenda. Make no mistake about it
-- nuclear energy is actually the cleanest, safest,
and most efficient energy (electricity) source there
is. The facts prove this.
FACT:
World production of electricity from nuclear power is
increasing. There are currently 440 nuclear power reactors
located in 31 countries, and an additional 29 are being
constructed in 11 countries. The World Nuclear Association
reports that at least 8 countries with nuclear power
programs (China, Finland, France, India, Japan, Pakistan,
Russia and South Korea) have plans to build new power
reactors beyond those already under construction. In
total, about 35 more nuclear power plants are being
planned, with a similar number being proposed. As one
might expect, China is leading the way. Even Russia
has announced plans to double its nuclear capacity by
2015. In addition, a number of nuclear plants have announced
expansion plans, which will increase the demand for
uranium even further in the years ahead.
FACT:
For the past few years, mine production of uranium has
accounted for only slightly over half of demand. The
balance was made up from stock depletion and dismantling
of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (HEU). Further
drawdowns from existing inventores and the HEU weapons
disarmament program (mostly from Russia) will not be
able to meet the forecast supply/demand deficit. In
fact, Russia (the world's second largest uranium
exporter after Canada) has stated that they are going
to limit their exports to conserve fuel for the 25 nuclear
power plants they plan to build by 2020.
FACT:
It normally takes several years for new uranium discoveries
to be developed into producing mines. Due to the lead
time required for new uranium mine development, a significant
increase in the market price of uranium will not result
in an immediate comparable increase in production. Thus
the price for uranium is likely to move much higher
and stay there longer -- a benefit to uranium exploration
companies.
FACT:
Uranium had its last boom in the 1970's and the
price peaked at over $43 per pound in the early 1980's.
It then entered a long bear market with the price falling
all the way down to $7.10 /lb. in Dec. 2000. Since then,
the price advanced to over $20 /lb. in early 2005, and
is clearly in a bull market, with most analysts predicting
much higher prices in the next few years.
FACT:
Jerry Grandey, CEO of Cameco, the world's largest
uranium producer, at a mining conference in Vancouver
(Jan. 2005), suggested that the uranium price could
hit $30 /lb. before year end. This price prediction
has already been surpassed. Morgan Stanely states in
their Dec. 15, 2004 "Global Insights" they
are forecasting that uranium spot prices will average
$45 /lb. in 2006. Dr. Thomas L. Neff, a researcher at
MIT stated at the World Nuclear Association Annual Symposium
in Sept. 2004 that the looming uranium shortage may
become so severe that the price could reach $110.00
per pound within the next five years.
FACT:
If the price of uranium increases significantly as many
experts predict, the share prices of companies which
produce/explore for uranium will likely increase as
well. An exploration company that makes a new economic
uranium discovery will almost certainly have an extraordinary
share price appreciation.
Uranium Production by Region, 1990-2004
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Updated: 9/20/05
Frequency: Annually
Uranium Production vs. Requirements, 1970-2005
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Updated: 3/23/05
Frequency: Annually
2-yr Ux U3O8 Prices
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Price Graphs: Ux
U3O8 Prices, 30-Week
Moving Ave, Historic
U3O8, Ux
Conversion Prices, Ux
UF6 Values, and Ux
SWU Prices.
Price Table: Historical
Price Table
Price Indicators: Uranium,
Conversion,
and Enrichment.
Ux U3O8 vs. CIS* Prices
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* As of October 1, 2001, UxC is no longer publishing
CIS prices.
Price Graphs: 2-yr
Ux U3O8 Prices, 30-Week
Moving Ave, Historic
U3O8, Ux
Conversion Prices, Ux
UF6 Values, and Ux
SWU Prices.
Price Table: Historical
Price Table
Price Indicators: Uranium,
Conversion,
and Enrichment.
Ux U3O8 vs. 30-Week Moving Average Prices
![]() |
Other Prices: Ux
U3O8 Prices, 2-yr
Ux U3O8 Prices, Historic
U3O8, Ux
Conversion Prices, Ux
UF6 Values, and Ux
SWU Prices.
Price Table: Historical
Price Table
Price Indicators: Uranium,
Conversion,
and Enrichment.
Top 10 Uranium Producing Countries
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