Nuclear fuel Chain: Uranium resources and associated risks

Abstract

Already in the 1950s King Hubbert pointed out the limited availability of fossil and uranium resources for energy usage. Many agree that reserves of oil will become scarce within this century and that to meet the world’s increasing demand for energy while simultaneously mitigating climate change, carbon intensive fossil fuels must be replaced by decarbonized energy sources. Thus, at least theoretically, nuclear energy could play a relevant role in the future energy system. However, uranium still is the main source material for all nuclear programmes world-wide and one should carefully examine its future availability before investing in a nuclear renaissance. Furthermore, uranium enrichment, a technology necessary to fuel today’s nuclear reactors, can be used to produce highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons. This sensitive technology is already a cause of conflict in the international arena due to the fear that additional states get access to the bomb (nuclear proliferation).