When do we run out of uranium? How much is used per year?

In summary, according to information from the World Nuclear Association, the world currently produces 43,000 tonnes of uranium per year and uses 65,000 tonnes per year. There are 5,500,000 tonnes of uranium reserves at the current spot market price, which is enough for approximately 85 years at the current rate of use. If nuclear energy were to account for 65% of global energy, the reserves would only last for 8.5 years. There is also a global reserve of 2.6 million tonnes of thorium, with about 2/3 of it located in India. While thorium may not be abundant globally, it is a promising energy source for India.
  • #1
edpell
282
4
When do we run out of uranium? How much is used per year? How much is in stock piles? How much is in deposits that we can afford to extract?
 
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  • #2
Last decades world-wide production
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/uprod.html

Uranium Supply - http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf75.html

Nuclear fuel cycle pages - http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf03.html (includes inf75)

Search the site for "Uranium reserves" and many reports will be found.

Besides uranium, there is thorium as well.
 
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  • #3


Astronuc, thanks. From these I get yearly production 43KT (1000 tones), yearly usage 65KT, reserve at current spot market price 5,500KT. So about 85 years at current rate of use. Current nuclear accounts for 6.5% of world energy per year. If we went say 65% nuclear we would have 8.5 years of reserve. Good thing we do not use much nuclear.

Yes, there is much more thorium I will look at that next.
 
  • #4


Well I thought there was more thorium but I find 2.6x10^6 ton global reserve from
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/default.aspx?id=448&terms=thorium
assuming a Kg of U and a Kg of Th are about the same energy yield I would say there is less Th(?). A point of interest is that about 2/3 of the thorium is in India. So from a global point of view there may not be lots of thorium but from an India point of view thorium looks great.
 
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1. When do we run out of uranium?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on various factors such as the rate of consumption, new discoveries, and technological advancements. However, according to current estimates, there is enough uranium to last for another 100 years.

2. How much uranium is used per year?

The amount of uranium used per year varies depending on the global demand for nuclear energy. As of 2021, approximately 69,000 metric tons of uranium were used worldwide.

3. What factors affect the rate of uranium consumption?

The main factors that affect the rate of uranium consumption include the demand for nuclear energy, the number of nuclear power plants in operation, advancements in nuclear technology, and the availability of alternative energy sources.

4. Will we ever completely run out of uranium?

No, it is highly unlikely that we will completely run out of uranium. While the current known reserves may be depleted in the future, new discoveries and advancements in technology may allow us to access previously inaccessible sources of uranium.

5. What are the potential consequences of running out of uranium?

If we were to completely run out of uranium, it would have a significant impact on the global energy industry. It could potentially lead to an increase in the use of alternative energy sources, such as renewable energy, and a decrease in the use of nuclear energy. It could also have economic and political implications, as many countries rely on nuclear energy for their electricity needs.

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