Uranium industry

Energy Resources of Australia Ltd's (ERA) production of around eight per cent of the world's mined uranium oxide provided the fuel for nuclear power stations in America, Europe and Asia, generating around one per cent of the world's total electricity supply with significantly less carbon emissions than fossil-fuel based power systems.

Many parts of the world have renewed their interest in the nuclear energy option as fears grow about the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on climate. Sustainable development in the future will require increasing reliance on low carbon-emitting sources of energy. Nuclear energy is a key part of the solution.

It is likely that there will be a substantial increase in the use of nuclear power for electricity generation beyond those countries, which now have active programs of building nuclear capacity.

Despite the challenging economic climate, global demand for uranium is expected to grow significantly in the coming decade. 

This is due in part to the requirements of the world's 442 reactors, but also due to the construction of new reactors. 

Sixty-three new units are currently under construction around the world, with a further 156 reactors planned to be in operation by 2030.