Nuclear fuels

Reduced demand on the uranium market since 2011, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020/2021, led to a market-related reduction in total uranium production. From 2016 and 2022 production decreased by around 13,000 t U to a total of around 48,800 t U (minus 21%). In 2022, the increased restart of uranium production in Canada in particular (plus 2,600 t U) contributed significantly to the global increase.

Around 85% of global production was generated by five countries: Kazakhstan, Canada, Namibia, Australia and Uzbekistan. The largest producer country was once again Kazakhstan with over 21,200 t U.

The major uranium producing countries in 2022 Source: BGR, WNA

As of June 2023, 57 nuclear power plants were under construction in 17 countries, including 21 in China alone. Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world for nuclear energy. A total of 121 reactors are in operation in Asia and 38 are under construction. This trend is expected to intensify in the future. Several countries in Europe are also rely on nuclear energy as an important part of their national energy supply, including countries that have not previously used nuclear energy. Poland is planning to build its first nuclear power plant by 2033, while in Turkey the first of four reactors currently under construction is due to go online in 2024.

Countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy, which had already decided to phase out nuclear energy, are considering the construction of new reactors or extending the lifetimes of existing nuclear power plants.
The shutdown of the last three German nuclear power plants - Emsland in Lower Saxony, Isar 2 in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg - on April 15th, 2023 marked the end of the use of nuclear energy in Germany. The Grohnde, Gundremmingen C and Brokdorf nuclear power plants were already shut down in 2021.

BGR's activities include advising the Federal Government on the geological availability of nuclear fuel and on the remediation of mining sites. The BGR represents Germany in the international uranium group of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations (UN).