In most respects the environmental aspects of a uranium mine are the same as those of other metalliferous mining. Most uranium mines in Australia and Canada have ISO 14001 certification. The uranium itself has a very low level of radioactivity, comparable with granite.
There are three operating uranium mines in Australia: Ranger in Northern Territory, Olympic Dam in South Australia, and Beverley with Four Mile in South Australia. Four Mile has final processing through the Beverley plant.
Australia's uranium has been mined since 1954, and three mines are currently operating. Australia's known uranium resources are the world's largest – 29% of the world total. It is the world's third-ranking producer, behind Kazakhstan and Canada.
Australia's Uranium Deposits and Prospective Mines. Summary of Resources Available in Major Deposits and Prospective Mines
In the last 60 years uranium has become one of the world's most important energy minerals. It is used almost entirely for making electricity, though a small proportion is used for the important task of producing medical isotopes.
There has been more than 40 years of experience in applying international radiation safety regulations at uranium mines. Uranium mining companies have taken steps to reduce radiation doses wherever and whenever they can.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has impacted the country's nuclear power facilities. This page provides a summary of the latest developments.
Potable water is in short supply in many parts of the world. Lack of it is set to become a constraint on development in some areas. Nuclear energy is already being used for desalination, and has the potential for much greater use.
Energy storage on a large scale has become a major focus of attention and research as intermittent renewable energy has become more prevalent.
Energy storage on a large scale has become a major focus of attention and research as intermittent renewable energy has become more prevalent.
A large amount of uranium is in rare earths deposits, and may be extracted as a by-product. Higher uranium prices and geopolitical developments would enhance the economic potential for recovering these.
Uranium occurs in a number of different igneous, hydrothermal and sedimentary geological environments. The major primary ore mineral is uraninite or pitchblende, though a range of other uranium minerals exist.
The USA's reactors provide about 18% of its electricity. These have a high level of performance.
Life-cycle analysis is useful for comparing net energy yields from different methods of electricity generation. Nuclear power shows up very well as a net provider of energy. External costs, evaluated as part of life-cycle assessment, strongly favour nuclear over coal-fired generation.
Rock phosphate deposits contain many million tonnes of uranium, which may be extracted as a by-product of making fertilizers. The process because uneconomic in the 1990s, but process improvements and higher U prices may change this.
While cooling is clearly an essential factor in the siting of individual nuclear plants, this is readily manageable and constitutes no constraint on the future growth of nuclear power as a large-scale low-cost provider of clean energy.
Issues Paper Three – Electricity generated from nuclear fuels. Submission from the World Nuclear Association to the South Australian Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission (August 2015)
Reactor operators have taken steps to protect their workforce and have implemented business continuity plans to ensure the continuing functioning of key aspects of their businesses. Nuclear technologies are also being used to detect and fight the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Like nuclear power, renewable energy provides electricity without significant carbon dioxide emissions. However, solar and wind require back-up generating capacity due to their intermittent nature.
The science of atomic radiation, atomic change and nuclear fission was developed from 1895 to 1945. From 1945 attention was given to harnessing this energy in a controlled fashion for naval propulsion and for making electricity.
Nearly three-quarters of the world's production of uranium from mines is from Kazakhstan, Canada, Australia and Namibia. Another 11 countries contribute the rest.
The world’s first AP1000 power reactor (developed by US-based Westinghouse) was connected to the grid at Sanmen in China and generated electricity for the first time on Saturday 30th June. This came a day after the world’s first EPR (developed by France’s Framatome) was connected at Taishan, also in China. The official start of electricity production from these two advanced reactors marks the beginning of a new chapter for the global nuclear industry. It is also a proud day for China’s burgeoning nuclear sector and testimony to the rich benefits of international cooperation in nuclear innovation.
Germany until March 2011 obtained one-quarter of its electricity from nuclear energy, using 17 reactors. Following the Fukushima accident in Japan in March 2011, eight reactors shut down immediately with the remaining reactors phased out by April 2023.
Burning coal without adding to global carbon dioxide levels is a major technological challenge. The greatest challenge is bringing the cost of capture and storage technology down sufficiently for 'clean coal' to compete with nuclear power.
Burning coal without adding to global carbon dioxide levels is a major technological challenge. The greatest challenge is bringing the cost of capture and storage technology down sufficiently for 'clean coal' to compete with nuclear power.
California has a large and growing population and a flourishing economy, with a major high-technology sector. Electricity demand has been rising steadily for many years. In 2000-01 there was an acute electricity supply crisis, triggered by several factors. In 2020 there was another supply crisis.
Energoatom and US firm Westinghouse have signed an agreement to increase from five to nine the number of planned new AP1000 reactors for Ukraine
Germany's Energiewende (energy transition) is a national program to change to a renewable-dominated energy system and phase out nuclear power. The government has estimated that the total cost of this could reach €1 trillion.
South Africa has two nuclear reactors generating 5% of its electricity. South Africa's first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1984. Government commitment to the future of nuclear energy has been strong, but financial constraints are severe.
Whereas carbon dioxide emissions associated with nuclear power generation are negligible, emissions from fossil fuel power plants are considerable – resulting in environmental and health consequences.
National and regional grid systems connecting generators with wholesale customers are just as important as electrical power generation. Investment in these is often on a similar scale to generation capacity.
Molten salt reactor use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. Much of the interest today in reviving the MSR concept relates to using thorium (to breed fissile uranium-233).
There are 25 reactors operating in South Korea, providing more than a quarter of the country's electricity.
This report is the first in the series on Defence-in-Depth and Diversity, and builds upon the work carried out in the series of reports on Safety Classification for I&C Systems in Nuclear Power Plants
Electricity is essential for modern life, yet almost one billion people live without access to it. Challenges such as climate change, pollution and environmental destruction require that we change the way we generate electricity.
Russia is moving steadily forward with plans for an expanded role of nuclear energy, including development of new reactor technology. Exports of nuclear goods and services are a major Russian policy and economic objective.
World Nuclear Association launches a special update to its 2016 World Nuclear Performance Report focusing on developments in Asia.
Most of the commercial nuclear power reactors in the world today require uranium 'enriched' in the U-235 isotope for their fuel. The commercial process employed for this enrichment involves gaseous uranium hexafluoride in centrifuges.
Fusion power offers the prospect of an almost inexhaustible source of energy for future generations, but it also presents so far unresolved engineering challenges.
Hydrogen is widely seen as a future transport fuel. Nuclear energy can be used to make hydrogen electrolytically, and in the future high-temperature reactors are likely to be used to make it thermochemically.
South Korea is among the world's most prominent nuclear energy countries, and exports its technology widely. Today 26 reactors provide about one-third of South Korea's electricity from 26 GWe of plant.
Nineteen reactors operate at four plants in southeast Canada,
Reprocessing of Japanese used fuel has been undertaken in UK and France under contract with Japanese utilities. Recovered fissile materials are returned to Japan as reactor fuel, notably as mixed oxide (MOX) fuel.
About 30 countries are actively considering, planning or starting nuclear power programmes.
An overview of key global results.
Over 160 ships are powered by more than 200 small nuclear reactors. Most are submarines, but they range from icebreakers to aircraft carriers. In future, constraints on fossil fuel use in transport may bring marine nuclear propulsion into more widespread use.
Global nuclear generation capacity is set to grow from today's 379 GWe to 552 GWe by 2035, according to the reference scenario of the World Nuclear Association Nuclear Fuel Report.
Public opinion is an important consideration for governments and policy-makers. This page provides information about polling of public opinion on nuclear energy.
Australian Research Reactors, Australia has a new state of the art research reactor – OPAL, which commenced operation in 2006. Australia was one of the first countries to build a civil research reactor, in 1958. HIFAR produced most of Australia’s radioisotopes for medicine and industry from 1958 to 2007.
The latest edition of the World Nuclear Performance Report has been published. The world’s nuclear reactors made a growing contribution to supplying clean and reliable electricity in 2018.
Worldwide nuclear generation in 2018 increased for the sixth successive year, reaching 2563 TWh. This is more than 10% of global electricity demand.
Atomic Canyon has announced a new project with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
China has become self-sufficient in most aspects of the fuel cycle. The country aims to produce one-third of its uranium domestically, obtain one-third through foreign equity in mines and joint ventures overseas, and to purchase one-third on the open market.
Japan has a full nuclear fuel cycle set-up, including enrichment and reprocessing of used fuel for recycle. Nuclear energy has been a national strategic priority since 1973.
A surge in new nuclear plants coming online is helping reduce emissions and meet electricity demand, but much more is needed to achieve a sustainable energy mix, said Agneta Rising, speaking on the opening day of Atomexpo 2018.
India has a largely indigenous nuclear power programme and has ambitious plans to expand nuclear capacity. The country has a vision of becoming a world leader in nuclear technology due to its expertise in fast reactors and thorium fuel cycle.
Japan needs to import some 90% of its energy requirements. Nuclear energy has been a national strategic priority since 1973. Following the 2011 Fukushima accident this policy was reviewed and reaffirmed.
World Nuclear Association launches its report providing key metrics on nuclear power plant performance and reviewing recent developments in the global nuclear industry.
Japanese Waste and MOX Shipments from Europe Appendix: From BNFL Media Brief 4 December 1996, "Shipments of Nuclear Materials Between Europe and Japan"
Nuclear fuel has a diverse supply chain and can be stored onsite
Spain generates about a fifth of its electricity from nuclear power. Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1968. There are plans for renewed uranium mining. Government commitment to nuclear energy has been uncertain.
Vietnam has considered establishing nuclear power generation since 1995, and firm proposals surfaced in 2006. In November 2016 these plans were cancelled.
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The Chernobyl accident in 1986 was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated with inadequately trained personnel. Two Chernobyl plant workers died on the night of the accident, and a further 28 people died within a few weeks as a result of acute radiation poisoning.
Uranium is a very heavy metal which can be used as an abundant source of concentrated energy. Uranium occurs in most rocks in concentrations of 2 to 4 parts per million and is as common in the Earth's crust as tin, tungsten and molybdenum.
Sweden has announced it will phase out its nuclear capacity tax. Agneta Rising, Director General, World Nuclear Association said, “It is excellent news that this tax will be removed, but it should never have been implemented in such a way as to distort the market and put at risk the operation of Sweden’s nuclear power plants, which provide affordable and reliable electricity and form a vital part of its low carbon generation mix.”
The World Nuclear University Primer on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century is an authoritative resource for educators, students, policy-makers and interested lay-people alike.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi says the delivery of "vital radiation protection and monitoring equipment" is a "major step forward"
Over 300 industry leaders, policymakers, and technical experts met in Montreal, Canada for World Nuclear Fuel Cycle (WNFC) 2025 conference, held from April 8–10.
The performance of nuclear power plants worldwide will be highlighted at the World Nuclear Association Symposium, which will be held from 5-7 September. The conference, which will bring together nearly 600 nuclear leaders and experts, will see the full release of the World Nuclear Performance Report 2018.
Radiotherapy can be used to treat some medical conditions, especially cancer. Tens of millions of nuclear medicine procedures are performed each year, and demand for radioisotopes is increasing rapidly.
The Netherlands has one nuclear reactor generating a small amount of its electricity. A previous decision to phase out nuclear power has been reversed. Public and political support is increasing for expanding nuclear energy.
France derives about 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy. This is due to a long-standing policy based on energy security. France is the world's largest net exporter of electricity due to its very low cost of nuclear generation.
Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel provides about 2% of the new nuclear fuel used today. MOX fuel is manufactured from plutonium recovered from used reactor fuel. MOX fuel also provides a means of burning weapons-grade plutonium (from military sources) to produce electricity.
If we are going to stand any chance of combatting climate change and keeping global temperature increases to 1.5oC and at the same time provide reliable and affordable electricity to all that will need it, we are going to need nuclear energy.
World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León has called for more action, not more rhetoric, to come out of the ongoing COP26 climate change conference
Poland plans to have nuclear power from about 2036 as part of a diverse energy portfolio, moving it away from heavy dependence on coal.
The World Nuclear Performance Report 2018 has been published. Worldwide nuclear generation in 2017 increased for the fifth successive year, reaching 2,506 TWh. Nuclear power reactor availability improved, achieving a mean average capacity factor of 81%.
Nuclear energy is a clean, sustainable energy source. It is essential for meeting the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs).
We welcome the IEA’s recognition of the potential for nuclear energy to play an important role in the transition to a clean energy system and we strongly endorse the IEA’s call for more investment in clean energy, including nuclear energy.
This report serves as a practical guide to decommissioning nuclear plants, allowing both established nuclear stakeholders and those new to the industry to learn from past experience.
This Strategic Plan is to outline the general directions and activities CORDEL plans to undertake during the period 20145-2018.
Production from world uranium mines has in recent years supplied 90% of the requirements of power utilities. Primary production from mines is supplemented by secondary supplies, principally by ex-military material.
China has become largely self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle. The strong impetus for nuclear power in China is increasingly due to air pollution from coal-fired plants.
From the outset, there has been a strong awareness of the potential hazard of both nuclear criticality and release of radioactive materials. Both engineering and operation are designed accordingly.
More than 9 GWe of new nuclear capacity came online in 2016, the largest annual increase for over 25 years and global nuclear generation rose for the fourth successive year. However, if nuclear is going to make a full contribution to future clean electricity supply, action is needed in three key areas: establishing a level playing field in electricity markets; building harmonized regulatory processes; and creating an effective safety paradigm.
These are the conclusions of the World Nuclear Performance Report 2017, which is published today.
This report presents the example of transport and extracts potential lessons to be drawn for international harmonization of reactor design and approaches to licensing. In so doing, the authors acknowledge that while there is significant complexity in designing a package to safely ship nuclear material in the public domain, the design of nuclear reactors is clearly of a higher order of complexity.
Sweden's nuclear power reactors provide about 30% of its electricity. In November 2023 the government announced plans to construct two large-scale reactors by 2035 and the equivalent of 10 new reactors, including small modular reactors, by 2045.
Ukraine is heavily dependent on nuclear energy – it has 15 reactors generating about half of its electricity.
Former Australian uranium mines. Australian uranium production from mines now closed
Nuclear English is a course designed for English language learners working in the nuclear industry and in other fields of nuclear science and technology.
Armenia has relied heavily on nuclear power since 1976. It has one reactor in operation and the government plans to build another.
New Zealand is one of the few developed countries not using electricity (indigenous or imported) from nuclear energy. As hydro-electric potential was progressively utilized, nuclear power featured in national power plans from 1969 to 1976.