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France depends on Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Niger for uranium. At least it depended on Niger until there was a military coup that stopped further exports. If t

France depends on Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Niger for uranium. At least it depended on Niger until there was a military coup that stopped further exports. If there is a large scale conflict, I would not bet on those reactors accomplishing much. Not to mention that they did not accomplish much three years ago during the biggest energy crisis in decades, and that they need humongous investments just to keep running, so that they can get retired for further enormous costs. I'm not sure you can lead where your allegedly biggest asset is barely holding its head above water and is long term s huge liability.

TheAlchemist 2y ago
That's interesting. In case of large scale conflict, for how long could French reactors run ? I assumed for quite long, am I completely wrong here ?
- adev_ 2y ago
  > ? I assumed for quite long, am I completely wrong here ? France has more of 10y of Uranium stockpile for it's own consumption.
- m4rtink 2y ago
  While not being very actively mined, Czech Republic has large Uranium reserves & provided a lot of the initial soviet uranium after the soviet sponsored comunist coup: https://english.radio.cz/czech-radioactive-dillema-8109837 https://english.radio.cz/czech-radioactive-dillema-8109837 https://www.suro.cz/files/2021-03/Uranium%20mining%20history%20in%20Czech%20Republic.pdf https://www.suro.cz/files/2021-03/Uranium%20mining%20history... I guess lots of this could be restarted if there is demand ?
akvadrako 2y ago
Uranium is common, it's just not profitable to mine at current prices. But fuel costs are just a few percentage points of the total. If there were a shortage, it's no problem to pay even 5x more. Then you'll see suppliers pop up everywhere.
- locallost 2y ago
  It's a theory that makes sense, but in reality e.g. during the crisis in 2022, one of the solutions 6 months in was to fly in welders from the US. Which might be a point that a solution can be found in a crisis, except the Edf had lost billions up to that point, after countless delays, finishing the year over 15 billion in the red. Overall, that industry has been incapable of delivering anything in a reasonable timeframe for decades now, especially in France. So I would not take theories for granted, even if they make sense.

TheAlchemist 2y ago

That's interesting. In case of large scale conflict, for how long could French reactors run ? I assumed for quite long, am I completely wrong here ?

adev_ 2y ago
> ? I assumed for quite long, am I completely wrong here ? France has more of 10y of Uranium stockpile for it's own consumption.
m4rtink 2y ago
While not being very actively mined, Czech Republic has large Uranium reserves & provided a lot of the initial soviet uranium after the soviet sponsored comunist coup: https://english.radio.cz/czech-radioactive-dillema-8109837 https://english.radio.cz/czech-radioactive-dillema-8109837 https://www.suro.cz/files/2021-03/Uranium%20mining%20history%20in%20Czech%20Republic.pdf https://www.suro.cz/files/2021-03/Uranium%20mining%20history... I guess lots of this could be restarted if there is demand ?

akvadrako 2y ago

Uranium is common, it's just not profitable to mine at current prices. But fuel costs are just a few percentage points of the total. If there were a shortage, it's no problem to pay even 5x more. Then you'll see suppliers pop up everywhere.

locallost 2y ago
It's a theory that makes sense, but in reality e.g. during the crisis in 2022, one of the solutions 6 months in was to fly in welders from the US. Which might be a point that a solution can be found in a crisis, except the Edf had lost billions up to that point, after countless delays, finishing the year over 15 billion in the red. Overall, that industry has been incapable of delivering anything in a reasonable timeframe for decades now, especially in France. So I would not take theories for granted, even if they make sense.