WNA reported in late 2020 (updated in May, 2023) that the USA has current nuclear fuel production capacity insufficient for domestic needs [because the fuel is coming from overseas uranium deposits [(e.g. in Russia, Kazakhstan, Niger, China, etc.) is artificially low becasue certain country governments underwrite fuel prices. American nuclear power utilities fall for the lowest price, not for the security of the fuel supply. Why? Because they never had concerns... until now] A new enrichment plant is licensed to expand. Currently, almost all the uranium used in U.S. commercial reactors is imported. After reaching a peak in 1980, domestic mining now accounts for about 5% of the fuel used in U.S. reactors. Between 1977 and 2005, government policy did not allow reprocessing of used fuel for commercial reactors.
Uranium Resources and Mining
The U.S. ranks 15th in the world for known uranium resources in the category up to $130/kgU ($50/lb U3O8), with 47,200 tU (reasonably assured resources, 2017), about 1% of world total. This based on USGS convoluted estimate, not on exploration protentional. Given the minimum depths (about 1,500 feet TD)In the 1950s, the USA had a great deal of uranium mining, promoted by federal subsidies. Peak production since 1970 was 16,800 tU in 1980, when there were over 250 mines in operation. This abruptly dropped to 50 in 1984 when 5,700 tU was produced, and then there was a steady decline to 2003, by which time there were only two small operations producing a total of under 1000 tU/yr, or about 5% of the uranium consumed by U.S. nuclear plants. So, for the first step in the nuclear fuel cycle, the U.S. must rely on imports of uranium from countries such as Canada and Australia, or downblended weapons-grade uranium from Russia (now ceased, see section on Military surplus and other government stocks below).
As the price of uranium has increased from historic lows, there was a revival in exploration and plans to reopen old mines. Exploration expenditure increased over 2007-08 to $50.3 million, but has dropped since. A number of companies announced plans to refurbish and restart mines in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. There are now operating mines in Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming (see US Nuclear Fuel Cycle Appendix 1: US Uranium Mining and Exploration). [Also see: "Uranium and Nuclear Power are on the Move ... Again !"]
Most US production has been from New Mexico and Wyoming. Some 40% of resources are in New Mexico and amenable to ISL recovery. Resources on the western Colorado Plateau require conventional mining and milling, as does high-grade breccia pipe mineralisation in northwest Arizona. Smaller resources are in Utah, Nebraska and Texas. Production potential is about 50% underground mining, 26% open pit and 24% in situ leach (ISL).
Uranium was produced from one mill (White Mesa, Utah) and five ISL operations in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, Rosita became a sixth ISL production site before being shut down, and a total of ten underground mines (four more than during 2007) produced uranium. Production has remained at about the same level since 2006, with an increase in 2013 and 2014 but dropping back thereafter.1 Over 2014 to 2019 production came from six ISL operations and two or three underground mines. [For more information regarding the uranium supplies in the U.S., see (here).]
[Read on and watch for updates as the spot and contract prices of uranium rise this year .... (more)]
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