Industry experts discussed the importance of the nuclear fuel life cycle today in the latest session of the ongoing series, The American Nuclear Energy Revival, hosted by the U.S. Energy Association, The Sept. 23 briefing examined the steps of nuclear fuel cycle from mining to uranium enrichment to used fuel recycling.

Discussing uranium mining, Grant Isaac of Cameco, explained the operations involved to obtain the natural resource – exploration, mining, milling, and conversion – and emphasized the important of sustainability and life cycle environmental impact. Isaac pointed out a common misconception regarding the scale that mining’s impact on the environment. Compared to other energy sources, uranium is quite small. Specifically, he pointed out that uranium mine covering one square mile, such as one Cameco operates in Canada, yields the same amount of energy as produced by 71 billion barrels of oil or 17 billion tons of coal.

From UX Consulting Company, Ruthanne Neely discussed the global enrichment market. While current capacity does not meet U.S. demand, Neely explained that AREVA and Urenco have two centrifuge enrichment facilities under various stages of development that will add domestic capacity to the U.S. market. She noted that this growth will be rivaled by the Russians and the Chinese as they expand their enrichment resources and build more nuclear reactors.

On the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, AREVA’s Dr. Alan Hanson discussed that with Yucca Mountain off of the table, and with the growing nuclear revival, he recommended that the United States make a more sustainable decision for managing its used fuel. While dry-cask storage is a safe approach for the interim, he noted that recycling as part of integrated fuel management presents a solid option.

Hanson explained that the countries with large nuclear generation that have chosen to recycle used fuel have done so, because it enhances the security of supply. In effect, recycled nuclear fuel offers a domestic source of material for nations that are reliant on imports. The other benefits he listed include making final waste management easier, conserving natural resources, and supporting non-proliferation objectives.

More importantly, Hanson pointed out that finding a solution is a social responsibility, and these materials should not be left for the next generation. Americans recycle soda cans and newspapers even though it is not necessarily less expensive and no shortage of these resources exists.

Check out more information on these aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle and AREVA’s operations in each: mining, enrichment, and recycling.

Despite recent negative reports in the media, Saskatchewan is the most supportive province in Canada for the nuclear industry.  These results from recent polls showing support for nuclear energy and uranium mining are no surprise to Saskatchewan industry.  We run our own polls twice a year and have data going back into the 1990s.  Basically, Saskatchewan residents are nuts about uranium mining, with public support ranging as high as 84% and not going below 70% anytime in the past decade.  There is not a politician or an interest group in the world that wouldn’t be happy with these results!

At a My Future Is Here town hall meeting, attendants were asked to post their age and opinion on nuclear power.

In addition to supporting uranium mining, Saskatchewan residents demonstrate a high level of trust in both AREVA and Cameco to do their jobs properly.  The majority of Saskatchewan residents also support nuclear power, isotope/research reactor development, uranium enrichment/conversion and even nuclear waste management in the province.  When supporters are asked if they would also support the location of a nuclear facility in a suitable location in their community, the majority say “yes.”  Interestingly, during the Uranium Development Partnership hearings and wild discussions on isotope production, support for a research/isotope reactor in the province climbed to 75%.