U.S. Nuclear Fuel Cycle - 2021

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

WNA reported in February, 2021 that the U.S. has nuclear fuel production capacity currently insufficient for domestic needs. A new enrichment plant is licensed to expand. Currently, almost all the uranium used in US commercial reactors is imported. After reaching a peak in 1980, domestic mining now accounts for about 5% of the fuel used in US 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. In the 1950s, the U.S. 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 in the past downblended weapons-grade uranium from Russia (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).

Most U.S. 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.

In mid-2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a generic environmental impact statement (EIS) on ISL (or in situ recovery, ISR) mining in the western U.S. This will streamline but not eliminate the requirement for a supplementary EIS for each new mine. The NRC expects 17 applications for ISL facilities in the next couple of years, with each taking two years to process, including public participation.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA’s) Uranium Marketing Annual Report for 2019 said that 21,927 tonnes of U₃O₈ (equivalent) was purchased by U.S. utilities in in 2019, and 20,009 tonnes of this was from foreign sources (91%). Only 1906 tonnes of U.S. origin U₃O_. (equivalent) was delivered in 2019, 9% of the total. Of the 20,009 tonnes purchased from foreign sources, Canada provided 4615 t (23%), Kazakhstan 3,975 t (20%), Australia 3,858 t (19%), Russia 3,342 t (17%), Uzbekistan 1981 t (10%), Namibia 1112 t (6%), Niger 453 t (2%). Other sources provided about 680 t (3%). During 2019, about 22% was purchased under spot contracts and the balance under long-term contracts or other arrangements, the overall weighted average price being $35.59/lb U₃O₈ ($92.50/kgU). Total US commercial inventory decreased to 57,668 t U3O8 equivalent (48,900 tU), 89% of this held by utilities.

In July 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce launched a Section 232 investigation* into whether the U.S.'s reliance on uranium imports poses a threat to national security. Prior to that, the U.S. Department of the Interior determined uranium to be a critical mineral. In July 2019, the petition was rejected.

* Under Section 232 of Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (as amended), investigations may be carried out to determine the effects of imports on the USA’s national security and give the President the ability to address any threats to national security by restricting imports through tariffs.

See updates on the Section 232 activities. and the extensive coverage in this report.