According to a report by Russian News
Network on June 7, the International Atomic Energy Agency pointed out in its
newly released report that the total global uranium reserves are approximately
35 million tons, much higher than the original estimate of 4.7 million tons
(enough for the world's uranium reserves). Nuclear power plants last 85 years).
Experts from the International Atomic
Energy Agency estimate that if all nuclear power plants in various countries
use "fast reactors" with higher power generation efficiency, the
current uranium reserves will be enough for global use for 2,500 years. They
pointed out in the report that by 2025, the power generation of nuclear power
plants will increase by approximately 22-44%, which will lead to a significant
increase in demand for uranium. Since 2001, the costs of uranium mining in
various countries have been increasing: mining costs in 2004 reached US$130
billion, an increase of 40% from 2002.
According to data released by the
International Atomic Energy Agency, by 2004, there were 30 countries in the
world with 442 nuclear power plants, and their total power generation accounted
for 16% of the world's total power generation. The five countries with the most
nuclear power plants are the United States (104), France (59), Japan (54),
Russia (30) and the United Kingdom (27). Exceptions are five countries that
rely mainly on nuclear power plants for their electricity supply: Lithuania
(80%), France (76%), Slovakia (57%), Belgium (55%) and Sweden (50%). There are
currently 27 nuclear power plants under construction around the world, and most
of them - 18 - are located in Asia.
According to data provided by the U.S.
Department of Energy, uranium mines are currently distributed in at least 43
countries. Among them, the countries with larger reserves are Australia
(accounting for about 27% of the world's total reserves, but there are no
nuclear power plants in the country), Kazakhstan (17%), Canada (15%), South
Africa (11%), Namibia (8%), Brazil (7%), Russia (5%), the United States and
Uzbekistan (4%).
The world's largest uranium producer is
Canada. In 2004, Canadian uranium mining accounted for 29% of the world's total
uranium mining.