Why uranium mining is having a resurgence in the United States

Industry Overview - The United States was a leader in uranium mining from the 1960s to the mid-1980s, but domestic production has significantly declined since then [1] - The U.S. is the largest producer of nuclear power, yet it imports over 95% of the uranium needed for its 94 nuclear reactors [3] Policy and Government Support - Government funding and subsidies previously supported uranium production, but there has been a de-prioritization since the 1990s [2] - The Biden administration banned the import of Russian uranium in 2024 and allocated $2.7 billion in federal funding to enhance domestic uranium enrichment and conversion capacity [7] - Bipartisan support exists for the domestic uranium industry, but experts indicate that the U.S. will still rely on imports to meet demand [6][8] Demand and Supply Dynamics - There is a growing demand for nuclear power driven by electricity needs from AI technologies and a global shift towards cleaner energy [4] - A report from the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency suggests that known uranium deposits could be depleted by 2080 if demand continues to rise [5] - Current global uranium mining efforts are insufficient to meet demand, with a significant time lag from discovery to production [6] Challenges in Domestic Production - Even with existing permitted uranium projects, the U.S. cannot satisfy its own demand due to limited reserves, holding less than 1% of the world's total [8] - Companies like Ur-Energy and Energy Fuels are working to restart and increase domestic uranium production but face various challenges [9]