Strong Rise Forecast in Global Uranium Demand

Abstract

Taken at face value, the near-term prospects for uranium suppliers seem reasonably good, according to the Uranium Institute. In its latest review (the fourth to date) of the global uranium market, the London-based institute projects demand at the end of the 20th century to fuel commercial nuclear electricity-generating stations throughout the noncommunist countries at about 52,000 metric tons, an increase of almost 24% from the 42,000 metric tons or so used last year. The Uranium Institute was set up in 1975; its members comprise a number of bodies with interests in the nuclear fuel cycle in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Gabon, Italy, Japan, Namibia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the U.K., the U.S., and West Germany, as well as Euratom, a sister organization of the European Economic Community. In the year 2000, West European uranium use will account for 40% (20,800 metric tons) of the global noncommunist total. Next will come the ...