Myth: Tailings from uranium mines will remain highly toxic for millions of years and contaminate groundwater. #
Fact: The safe long-term management of waste rock and uranium mill tailings is an important aspect of the licensing process for uranium mines and mills. Techniques have been developed to safely contain this waste from the environment by using natural and/or man-made barriers to control contact between the tailings and groundwater. Tailings are stored and monitored in tailings management facilities, such as tailing ponds or mined-out open pits that are rigorously engineered for long-term storage and stability.
Myth: Uranium mines and mills increase radon levels in the environment. #
Fact: Studies have shown that uranium mining and milling activities do not increase radon levels in the environment away from the mine site. The level of radon near uranium mines is similar to natural radon levels monitored in background locations
Myth: Uranium mining robs valuable drinking water. #
First of all, water is not “consumed” but “used”. H₂O remains H₂O, otherwise mankind would have died of thirst long ago. Just like drinking water, process water can also be treated/purified with moderate energy input and thus used for uranium extraction – so there is no competition with the other drinking water needs. This circumstance affects all mining activities, not just those for uranium.
Myth: The need for uranium fuels new conflicts. #
Face: Uranium reserves, like all raw materials, can play a role in conflicts, but a very small one. There has never been and never will be a “war for uranium” because uranium will never be in short supply. Unlike many other commodities, uranium is distributed relatively evenly across the globe and virtually every country has access.
Myth: Nuclear fuel becomes more expensive with more nuclear power plants #
Fact: Fuel costs for nuclear plants are a minor proportion of total generating costs, actually only about 0.46 of 1 us cent per kwh [1]. So even if it increased by 100% it was still less than 1 us cent per kWh.
Nuclear power plants have a high energy density, meaning they produce large amounts of electricity from a relatively small amount of fuel.
Myth: Uranium gives dependence on “multinational corporations” #
Fact: The dependence on “multinational corporations” is already refuted by the fact that the cost of uranium production accounts for only 5% to 10% of the cost of nuclear power production [1]. In future reactor concepts with complete use of all uranium, this “dependency” will be further reduced by a factor of 100, and the stockpiles will be expanded accordingly. The more efficient use of fuel also makes even more expensive supplies economical, further increasing the range.
Myth: Pro-Russian military coup in Niger creates dependence on Russia #
Fact: Niger is only responsible for 4-5% of the world’s mining, so it can be replaced by other suppliers [2].
The French Ministry of Energy Transformation sees no danger to France’s uranium supply after the military coup in Niger and the halting of Nigerian uranium exports. The supply is globally widespread with uranium mines across 4 continents [3].
