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World uranium reserves in 2010

Uranium reserves are reserves of recoverable uranium, regardless of isotope, based on a set market price. The list given here is based on Uranium 2020: Resources, Production and Demand, a joint report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. [1]

Figures are given in metric tonnes. The reserves figures denote identified resources as of 1 January 2015, consisting of reasonably assured resources (RAR) plus inferred resources recoverable at a cost range of below US$260/kg U. The list also includes cumulative historical production figures.

The amount of ultimately recoverable uranium depends strongly on what one would be willing to pay for it. Uranium is a widely distributed metal with large low-grade deposits that are not currently considered profitable. As of 2015, 646,900 tonnes of reserves are recoverable at US$40 per kilogram of uranium, while 7,641,600 tonnes of reserves are recoverable at $260 per kilogram. [2] Moreover, much of Canada, Greenland, Siberia and Antarctica are currently unexplored due to permafrost and may hold substantial undiscovered reserves. Australia is estimated to have the largest reserves, followed by Kazakhstan, Canada and Russia.

Country Continent Reserves as of 2019 (tonnes) Historical Production to 2014
  Algeria Africa 19,500 0
  Argentina South America 39,800 2,582
  Australia Australia 2,049,400 194,646
  Belgium Europe 0 686
  Botswana Africa 87,200 0
  Brazil South America 276,800 4,172
  Bulgaria Europe 0 16,364
  Canada North America 873,000 483,957
  Central African Republic Africa 32,000 0
  Chad Africa 2,400 0
  Chile South America 1,400 0
  China Asia 269,700 39,849 [3] [4]
  Democratic Republic of the Congo Africa 2,700 25,600 [3]
  Czech Republic Europe 119,200 111,765 [3]
  Egypt Africa 1,900 0
  Finland Europe 1,200 30
  France Europe 0 76,006
  Gabon Africa 5,800 25,403
  Germany Europe 7,000 219,686
  Greece Europe 7,000 0
  Denmark (  Greenland) Europe 114,000 0
  Hungary Europe 13,500 21,067
  India Asia 30,480 [5] 11,200
  Indonesia Asia 8,400 0
  Iran Asia 7,500 0
  Italy Europe 6,100 0
  Japan Asia 6,600 84
  Jordan Asia 52,500 0
  Kazakhstan Asia 969,200 244,707
  Madagascar Africa 0 785
  Malawi Africa 14,300 4,217
  Mali Africa 8,900 0
  Mauritania Africa 24,500 0
  Mexico North America 5,000 49
  Mongolia Asia 143,500 535
  Namibia Africa 504,200 120,418
  Niger Africa 439,400 132,017
  Pakistan Asia 0 1,439 [3]
  Paraguay South America 3,600
  Peru South America 33,400 0
  Poland Europe 0 650
  Portugal Europe 7,000 3,720
  Romania Europe 6,600 18,899 [3]
  Russia Asia/Europe 661,900 158,844
  Senegal Africa 1,100
  Slovakia Europe 15,500 211
  Slovenia Europe 9,200 382
  Somalia Africa 7,600 0
  South Africa Africa 447,700 159,510
  Spain Europe 28,500 8,028
  Sweden Europe 9,600 200
  Tanzania Africa 58,200 0
  Turkey Asia/Europe 13,600 0
  Ukraine Europe 186,900 129,804
  United States North America 101,900 373,075
  Uzbekistan Asia 132,300 127,591 [3]
  Vietnam Asia 3,900 0
  Zambia Africa 31,000 86
  Zimbabwe Africa 1,400 0
Total 8,070,400 2,818,415

Notes: Historical production for the Czech Republic includes 102,241 tonnes of uranium produced in former Czechoslovakia from 1946 through the end of 1992. Historical production for Germany includes 213,380 tonnes produced in the German Democratic Republic from 1946 through the end of 1992. Historical production for the Soviet Union includes the former Soviet Socialist Republics of Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, but excludes Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Historical production for the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan is since 1992 only.

See also

References

  1. ^ Uranium 2020: Resources, Production and Demand (PDF). Uranium. OECD Publishing. 2020. doi: 10.1787/d82388ab-en. ISBN  978-92-64-26844-9. S2CID  241721777.
  2. ^ Uranium 2016: Resources, Production and Demand (PDF). Uranium. OECD Publishing. 2016. doi: 10.1787/uranium-2016-en. ISBN  978-92-64-26844-9.
  3. ^ a b c d e f estimate
  4. ^ "China's Nuclear Fuel Cycle - World Nuclear Association".
  5. ^ https://www.pmfias.com/uranium-thorium-distribution-advantages-uranium-india-nuclear-power-plants/#:~:text=Some%20uranium%20is%20found%20in,are%20estimated%20at%2030%2C480%20tonnes.