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It's.. complicated. Nuclear is super clean at the consumption site, but not super clean at the mining site [0]. And then there's the problem that France's acces

by lopis 3y ago

It's.. complicated. Nuclear is super clean at the consumption site, but not super clean at the mining site [0]. And then there's the problem that France's access to cheap uranium is a relic of extractive colonialism, and these countries don't exactly see the fair profits from France's hunger for energy [1]. So yes, France's energy is cleaner, but it's a complicated picture. [0] https://meta.eeb.org/2017/10/18/french-state-owned-company-creates-ecocide-in-niger-to-fuel-its-nuclear-plants/ https://meta.eeb.org/2017/10/18/french-state-owned-company-c... [1] https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161954185.pdf https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161954185.pdf

cubefox 3y ago
> It's.. complicated. Nuclear is super clean at the consumption site, but not super clean at the mining site [0]. It's almost certainly not complicated. The CO2 produced by mining uranium is irrelevant compared to the CO2 produced by burning coal fuel. > And then there's the problem that France's access to cheap uranium is a relic of extractive colonialism, and these countries don't exactly see the fair profits from France's hunger for energy [1]. Uranium is not a large contributor to nuclear energy cost anyway, so this is no argument against nuclear energy. > So yes, France's energy is cleaner, but it's a complicated picture. I don't see how it is "complicated". Nuclear is clearly much better than Germany's coal+renewable. (Renewable-only was not an option since wind and solar are extremely volatile.)
- lopis 3y ago
  It's complicated in the political sense. They are spelunking former colonies to meet green energy targets, while those same countries struggle to progress.
  - mahkeiro 3y ago
    What are you talking about? Today less than 12% of French import of uranium are coming from Niger a former French colony. The main sources are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia.
  - adev_ 3y ago
    > It's complicated in the political sense. They are spelunking former colonies to meet green energy targets, while those same countries struggle to progress. It is wrong and a lie. Most uranium bought by (EDF) France lately come from Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan and Ouzbekistan. Definitively not countries you can name as "Colonies".
  - Moldoteck 3y ago
    Not only most of the bought fuel comes from other countries, including Canada, but 17% of their electro energy is generated by reprocessed nuclear fuel, also produced in France
simondotau 3y ago
Aside from supply chain inertia (and existing high demand for EVs) there's no practical obstacle stopping many mining operations moving to electric powered equipment, when such equipment becomes available.

by lopis 3y ago

cubefox 3y ago

> It's.. complicated. Nuclear is super clean at the consumption site, but not super clean at the mining site [0]. It's almost certainly not complicated. The CO2 produced by mining uranium is irrelevant compared to the CO2 produced by burning coal fuel. > And then there's the problem that France's access to cheap uranium is a relic of extractive colonialism, and these countries don't exactly see the fair profits from France's hunger for energy [1]. Uranium is not a large contributor to nuclear energy cost anyway, so this is no argument against nuclear energy. > So yes, France's energy is cleaner, but it's a complicated picture. I don't see how it is "complicated". Nuclear is clearly much better than Germany's coal+renewable. (Renewable-only was not an option since wind and solar are extremely volatile.)

lopis 3y ago
It's complicated in the political sense. They are spelunking former colonies to meet green energy targets, while those same countries struggle to progress.
- mahkeiro 3y ago
  What are you talking about? Today less than 12% of French import of uranium are coming from Niger a former French colony. The main sources are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia.
- adev_ 3y ago
  > It's complicated in the political sense. They are spelunking former colonies to meet green energy targets, while those same countries struggle to progress. It is wrong and a lie. Most uranium bought by (EDF) France lately come from Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan and Ouzbekistan. Definitively not countries you can name as "Colonies".
- Moldoteck 3y ago
  Not only most of the bought fuel comes from other countries, including Canada, but 17% of their electro energy is generated by reprocessed nuclear fuel, also produced in France

simondotau 3y ago

Aside from supply chain inertia (and existing high demand for EVs) there's no practical obstacle stopping many mining operations moving to electric powered equipment, when such equipment becomes available.