World Energy Outlook 2006

nuclear fuels in the long term, though this will require further
technological development. There is a wide range of technologies under
development to secure the future of nuclear power, including
Generation IV technologies, fast neutron reactors and nuclear fusion. Such
technologies, together with reprocessing and alternative nuclear fuel cycles,
could contribute to long-term fuel needs.
Uranium Production
World primary uranium production reached 40 263 tonnes in 2004. The past
decade has seen a continuing trend of concentration of uranium production in
fewer and fewer countries. While there were 19 uranium-producing countries
in 2004, just two of them – Canada and Australia – together produced over
half of the total (Table 13.13).
Table 13.13: World Uranium Production in Selected Countries, 2004
Share in world uranium
Country Production (tonnes) producion (%)
Canada 11 597 28.8
Australia 8 982 22.3
Kazakhstan 3 719 9.2
Russia 3 280 8.2
Niger 3 245 8.1
Namibia 3 039 7.6
Uzbekistan 2 087 5.2
United States 878 2.2
South Africa 747 1.9
Other 2 689 6.7
World 40 263 100
Source: NEA/IAEA (2006).
Planned production capability from all reported existing and committed
production centres, based on resources estimated to be recoverable at a
cost of less than $80 per kg, is sufficient to satisfy about 80% of the
Reference Scenario requirements and about 65% of the Alternative Policy
Scenario requirements by 2030 (Figure 13.15). Adding planned and
prospective production centres would allow primary production to satisfy
demand in the Reference Scenario, but primary production would still fall
short of needs in the Alternative Policy Scenario, meeting only about 86%
of requirements in 2030. After 2015, the availability of secondary sources
of uranium is expected to decline, meaning that reactor requirements will
380 World Energy Outlook 2006 - FOCUS ON KEY TOPICS