Publication Laka-library:
Uranium for Nuclear Power: Resources, Mining and Transformation to Fuel

AuthorHore-Lacy
6-01-2-20-113.pdf
DateFebruary 2016
Classification 6.01.2.20/113 (URANIUM - MINING / PRODUCTION / STOCKS / PRICES)
Front

From the publication:

Uranium for nuclear power:
an introduction                                                                        1
Ian Hore-Lacy
World Nuclear Association, London, United Kingdom




1.1        Introduction and history
Compared with other mineral commodities, especially metals, whose utility has
become evident by centuries of trial and error, the appreciation of uranium has
developed from theories based in physics in the 1930s to exploit the unique energy
density of uranium’s transformation in nuclear fission. Initially this was in
the crucible of a world war, but always beyond military uses was the promise of the
“uranium boiler” canvassed in the second British MAUD (Military Application of
Uranium Detonation) report in July 1941—the work of “one of the most effective
scientific committees that ever existed.”
    Less than eight years after atomic bombs demonstrated the immense potential of
uranium, the first precursor of today’s power reactors and numerous naval reactors
had started up in Idaho, and a year later, electricity was generated in Russia. The
focus was now on safe, controlled, long-lasting, and economical machines to
harness nuclear fission for reliable electricity supplies. The focus has remained
there, with over 500 civil nuclear reactors notching up more than 16,000 reactor-
years of operation to 2015 with remarkably few accidents—and even those acci-
dents had far less adverse effects than feared.
    Today nuclear power has a unique position in relation to national energy policies
as the only well-proven technology able to be deployed anywhere that can provide
continuous reliable supply of electricity on a large scale and without nearly any
CO2 emissions or air pollution. It is widely agreed that energy generally, and elec-
tricity in particular, must increasingly be produced with much lower carbon dioxide
emissions than hitherto. And as one-third of the world’s population aspires to enjoy
the benefits of electricity that they have so far missed out on, the question of afford-
ability looms larger than in the West, where it is by no means insignificant as a
cost of living and an input to production, which must be competitive. Nuclear plants
operate at low cost, and make electricity very affordable relative to any other
low-carbon source.
    Reliability is a key attribute of nuclear generation, and nuclear plants typically
operate at near full capacity 24 h per day and year-round with only a pause for
refueling every 18 24 months. This operation is irrespective of weather or season.
    However, nuclear power is capital-intensive and this affects its ability to com-
pete in liberalized electricity markets, particularly in competition with subsidized
renewables and cheap gas, as elaborated next. Some long-term assurance of
electricity sales at competitive prices with other sources apart from any subsidies
on those is required (and without any subsidy beyond what is required to counter
market distortions due to those sources).
   But the clear message from practically every international authority and their
reports is that nuclear power is essential for meeting the world’s growing need for
affordable, clean, and reliable electricity. There is no credible reason to not greatly
increase its role in world electricity production, and for industrial heat including
desalination.