World’s largest uranium producer is running short

The uranium renaissance has a slight hitch: the world’s largest producer of the yellowcake is staring at a production snag over the next two years.

And that’s about to send uranium prices, already at 16-year highs, on another rally.

Kazakh mining company Kazatomprom recently cautioned that it is likely to fall short of production targets through 2025 due to construction delays and “challenges related to the availability of sulfuric acid.” Sulfuric acid is critical in the extraction process as it is used to leach and recover uranium from raw ore.

Kazatomprom is the world’s leading uranium miner, accounting for over one-fifth of the world’s production. Kazakhstan also produces 43% of the world’s uranium supply, the largest slice of the global market for the heavy metal. Kazatomprom’s announcement comes as other major producers struggle. Canada-based Cameco has flagged lower production, while France-owned Orano has shut its Niger operation.

“We’re coming from a decade of under supply,” said Guy Keller, portfolio manager at investment and advisory firm Tribeca. He added that the deficit will continue as “we’re in the middle of the biggest reactor build program in decades.”

Uranium is a key material in nuclear power production and demand has soared as governments try to shift away from carbon-emitting fuels and reduce their reliance on Russian oil and gas.

Around 60 nuclear power reactors are under construction in 17 countries and another 110 are in the planning stages. Most projects underway are in Asia, particularly China.

At the COP28 climate change conference, more than 60 countries backed a plan to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, bringing nuclear energy back into the spotlight as an alternative power source.