“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity” ~llaw
Jan 30, 2025
(See published article below for image description and photo credits)
LLAW’s NUCLEAR WORLD NEWS TODAY with THE RISKS & CONSEQUENCES of TOMORROW
Without saying so the Nuclear Energy world has ignorantly placed their questionably productive cart before their very lame horse. What possible good is a nuclear power plant with no nuclear fuel (primarily enriched uranium) to run the new and old refurbished nuclear reactors. It’s like buying a new or used car with no gasoline (or batteries) to make it go.
Evidently nobody —because they were all back-slapping politicians being politically driven by global warming and the near-death nuclear industry — thought about an adequate nuclear fuel supply at that COP28 summit in December of 2023 when more than 20 countries launched the “Declaration to Triple Nuclear Power”. And, yes, it was the United States who cheer-led the summit that had its own dried up functional uranium producing industry that has steadily shriveled up since the early 1980s.
So it is that now the nuclear industry is in a bind to fuel the “White Elephants” — meaning the new potentially dangerous unproven nuclear reactors as well as older refurbished potentially dangerous nuclear reactors that are being raised from the dead.
And we should have known long ago that Nuclear Power is never going to solve the global warming issue. ~llaw
Nuclear revival puts uranium back in the critical spotlight
By Andy Home
January 30, 20256:40 AM PSTUpdated 5 hours ago
LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Is uranium a critical mineral?
Not according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which dropped it from its critical minerals list in 2022 on the grounds it didn’t qualify because it was a “fuel mineral”, opens new tab.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants it to think again.
One of Trump’s many “Unleashing American Energy”, opens new tab directives requires the Secretary of the Interior to instruct the director of the USGS to “consider updating the survey’s list of critical minerals, including for the potential of including uranium.”
Inclusion on the list would open up federal funds and fast-track permitting for domestic uranium projects.
It seems curious that uranium has slipped through a legal gap in the Energy Act of 2020, which stipulates only a “non-fuel mineral” can be considered a critical mineral.
Uranium ticks many of the criticality boxes. It’s experiencing a step-change in demand, global supply is heavily concentrated and the United States is almost totally import dependent.
The uranium price reflects these changing dynamics. Last year’s frothy rally to a 16-year high of $106 per lb has dissipated. But at a current price of $71 per lb, uranium is still higher than at any point in the decade that followed the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.
NUCLEAR COMEBACK
Fukushima caused many countries to rethink the role of nuclear in their energy mix but the threat of global warming has brought nuclear power in from the cold.
And at the moment, you have got this kind of overhang and uncertainty with Trump and tariffs from the U.S. and potential implications on the European economies.
The affirmation came at the COP28 summit in December 2023, when more than 20 countries launched the “Declaration to Triple Nuclear Power”.
It was official recognition, opens new tab of “the key role of nuclear energy in achieving global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and keeping the 1.5-degree goal within reach.”
Such green credentials likely don’t count for much with the Trump administration but Republicans view nuclear energy as a core component of national security, meaning it enjoys bipartisan support in the United States, albeit for different reasons.
Big tech is also enthusiastic as it searches for ever more power to feed its data centers. Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab signed a deal with Constellation Energy (CEG.O), opens new tab in September to help resurrect a unit of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania.
The re-embrace of nuclear power is a global trend.
Generation from the world’s fleet of nearly 420 reactors is on track to reach new heights in 2025, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Some 63 reactors are currently under construction, one of the highest levels since 1990, and the lifetimes of over 60 reactors will be extended, the IEA said.
SUPPLY STRESS
The resurgence of nuclear power means the world is going to need a lot more uranium and supply is already struggling to match demand.
A decade of low prices has taken its toll, particularly in the United States, where production fell from almost five million lb in 2014 to just 21,000 lb in 2021, according to the IEA.
Global uranium production is now heavily concentrated. Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia accounted for around two-thirds of global output in 2022, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Indeed, one of the triggers for the January 2024 price spike was a warning from Kazakhstan’s Kazatomprom (KZAP.KZ), opens new tab, the world’s largest producer, it might not achieve production targets due to a shortage of sulphuric acid.
Market stress is compounded by political stress.
The United States is trying to break its dependence on Russia for enriched uranium. Russian material accounted for 27% of the enriched uranium supplied to U.S. commercial reactors in 2023.
The Joe Biden administration banned Russian imports, albeit with waivers through 2027. Russia has responded by imposing restrictions on shipments to the United States, also with waivers.
Complicating things further is Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canada, which is the largest supplier of uranium to the U.S. market.
GOING CRITICAL
The uranium market is recharged after a decade in hibernation.
There was a lot of speculative froth in last year’s price spike with both institutional investors such as Goldman Sachs and retail investment vehicles such as Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (U_u.TO), opens new tab chasing the rally.
But the uranium price remains historically high. The market is pricing in a supply shortfall relative to demand from a growing global fleet of nuclear reactors.
The United States has plenty of potential new supply projects, many of them using leach technology, with which to fill the gap.
How quickly they can be activated depends on the difference between a critical mineral and a “fuel mineral” that is increasingly critical.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters
Get a look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. newsletter. Sign up here.
Editing by David Evans
Thomson Reuters
Senior metals columnist who previously covered industrial metals markets for Metals Week and was EMEA commodities editor at Knight-Ridder (subsequently Bridge). Started up Metals Insider in 2003 and sold it to Thomson Reuters in 2008, he is author of ‘Siberian Dreams’ (2006) about the Russian Arctic.
Subscribed
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO LLAW’s ALL THINGS NUCLEAR” RELATED MEDIA
(Please note that the Sunday and Saturday NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS are also added below by category, following Monday’s news posts in order to maintain continuity of nuclear news as well as for research for the overall information provided in “LLAW;s All Things Nuclear”.)
There are 7 categories, with the latest addition, (#7) being a Friday weekly roundup of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) global nuclear news stories. Also included is a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives. The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
- All Things Nuclear
- Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Power Emergencies
- Nuclear War Threats
- Nuclear War
- Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There are three Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in today’s Post.)
- IAEA Weekly News (Friday’s only)
Whenever there is an underlined link to a Category media news story, if you press or click on the link provided, you no longer have to cut and paste to your web browser, since this Post’s link will take you directly to the article in your browser.
A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
TODAY’s NUCLEAR WORLD’s NEWS, Thursday, (01/30/2025)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
As global tensions rise, so do fears of new nuclear testing – Little Rock Public Radio
Little Rock Public Radio
Rob Neely heads weapon simulation and computing at the lab. He says this new machine can do it all. ROB NEELY: Button to boom, so everything from the …
Step inside the secret lab where America tests its nukes – Nevada Public Radio
Nevada Public Radio
All Things · Culture · Food and Drink · The Guide · All … Amid growing tensions, Russia, China and the U.S. are all upgrading their nuclear test sites …
Step inside the secret lab where America tests its nukes – WSKG
WSKG
All Things Considered. Next Up: 6:00 PM … Amid growing tensions, Russia, China and the U.S. are all upgrading their nuclear test sites.
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Artificial intelligence is bringing nuclear power back from the dead — maybe even in California
CalMatters
Big tech energy needs, including for artificial intelligence, has elected officials giving nuclear power a serious reexaminatio
Nuclear revival puts uranium back in the critical spotlight: Andy Home | Reuters
Reuters
Fukushima caused many countries to rethink the role of nuclear in their energy mix but the threat of global warming has brought nuclear power in from …
Nuclear power plant to help reduce flooding, ice jam risk along Kankakee River – YouTube
YouTube
A nuclear power plant is helping to reduce the chance of flooding along the Kankakee River. Subscribe to FOX 32 Chicago: …
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Shizuoka Launches Nuclear Disaster Drill Amid Earthquake Risks – The Pinnacle Gazette
Evrim Ağacı
Officials test emergency plans for Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant as preparations for potential seismic disaster intensify. On January 29, 2025 …
Snow Lake Energy Well-Funded to Advance Its Portfolio of Clean Energy Projects … – StreetInsider
StreetInsider
United States Energy Emergency · Uranium and Nuclear Energy · Significant Financial Momentum · Strategic Plans for 2025 · About Snow Lasources Ltd
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight amid global threats – Boston.com
Boston.com
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight amid threats of climate change, nuclear war, pandemics, AI · A science-oriented advocacy group advanced its .
Russia’s Nuclear Doctrine Amendments: Scare Tactics or Real Shift?
United States Institute of Peace
… nuclear threats. As such, the amendments appear primarily designed to expand Russia’s set of coercive options and add greater flexibility to the …
The Doomsday Clock has never been closer to metaphorical midnight. What does it mean?
NPR
The threat levels — and threats themselves — have evolved. The Bulletin has repositioned the clock hands 26 times since 1947. It first moved — from …
Nuclear War
NEWS
The secret lab where America tests its nuclear weapons – NPR
NPR
A thousand feet beneath the desert, the United States conducts experiments to verify that its weapons work. But some fear a live test could come …
Russia Warns Of Nuclear War Over Putin Assassination Plot | World News – YouTube
YouTube
Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to talk to US President Donald Trump, and Moscow is waiting for word from Washington.
‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight amid threats of climate change, nuclear war …
Marietta Times
(AP) — Earth is moving closer to destruction, a science-oriented advocacy group said Tuesday as it advanced its famous “Doomsday Clock” to 89 …
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
A Survival Tip for the Day When the Yellowstone Caldera Erupts
News Radio 1310 KLIX
I guess the supervolcano below Yellowstone National Park is a bigger threat to an eruption than much of Idaho. While I’m told there is a caldera …
Oldest Geothermal Area In Yellowstone National Park Was Just Hit By An Earthquake
TheTravel
… Yellowstone Caldera, once again near Norris Geyser Basin. Other Notable Yellowstone Earthquake Facts, According To USGS: Recent magnitude 4 event …
America’s Heartland rocked by earthquake felt in several US states – MSN
MSN
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) detected a magnitude 3.9 quake near Norris Geyser Basin, considered the Yellowstone Volcano, …