The use of uranium for energy production, weaponry, and nuclear medicine is becoming increasingly mainstream in many countries. Fueling the world’s nuclear power plants is one of the most popular uses of uranium, with the deposits of this mineral often found in places like Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Let’s take a look at the top five countries with the largest uranium reserves as we move into 2023.
Beginning with Canada, uranium reserves in this country stand at 719,500 tonnes as of 2023. This number is expected to increase significantly over the coming years due to an increase in the use of uranium for energy production. Most of Canada’s uranium reserves are housed in the Athabasca Basin region, located in northern Saskatchewan. Not only is Canada one of the biggest uranium producers, but the country also hosts the world’s largest uranium mines.
Second is Australia, with estimates standing at 545,312 tonnes of available uranium reserves. Australia produces the highest quality uranium worldwide, which has made it one of the leading export destinations for other countries. Not only does the country mine its own uranium, but it also assists with conversion and export activities in various countries. Over the past few years, the Australian government has made uranium mining and production a much larger part of the economy.
Kazakhstan is the third largest uranium supplier, with nearly 105,000 tonnes of uranium reserves. Recently, the government has invested heavily in uranium mining and production, as it is the country’s biggest export. Kazakhstan contains one of the largest uranium deposits in the world, the FSU. Kazakhstan’s reserves are expected to increase in the coming years as the country is focusing more on developing new extraction methods and exploring new uranium fields.
Fourth is Russia, with an estimated 5,859 tonnes of uranium reserved. Though many believe that the country’s uranium reserves are much lower than previously estimated, Russia is still one of the major suppliers of the mineral. Russian company Rosatom is the leader in nuclear energy, enterprise research, and engineering, and it controls nearly a fifth of the world’s uranium reserves.
The fifth country on this list is South Africa, which boasts a reserve of 3,480 tonnes of uranium. Mining and processing of uranium has been on the rise in the past few years and will continue to increase in the future. The country has several uranium mines and processing plants which are making it one of the most important uranium suppliers.
In conclusion, these five countries are leading the way when it comes to Uranium reserves. With uranium production increasing in many countries due to its use in energy production, nuclear warfare, and health care, a secure and steady supply of this vital mineral is essential for a sustainable future.