Question:

The uranium we need for our nuclear power plants is also a fossil fuel. Does France have the resources necessary for its energy independence, and what is the situation concerning the planet’s resources ?

Answer:

France stopped operating uranium mines on its own territory in 2001. Nevertheless, AREVA remains the sole European producer (and the second producer in the world), its uranium originating from Canadian, Australian and African deposits. The global reserves are extensive as the "reasonably assured" resources, which are recoverable at less than US$80/kgU (US$30/lbU3O8) should be sufficient to satisfy demand for the next 50 years. For a higher production cost, and taking into account promising deposits, the estimate increases to 280 years. The use of fast breeder reactors, through better use of uranium, would allow this period to be multiplied by 50. And all this is without taking into account the fact that uranium ore is not the only possible source. We may also count on the uranium made available from the dismantling of nuclear warheads or the processing of used nuclear fuel. The ocean also contains some 4 billion metric tons (4.4 billion short tons) of extremely dilute dissolved uranium. Recovering it, which is technically feasible,would nevertheless be costly compared to the US$26 per kilo of uranium ore at current prices.