Why is uranium important?

Uranium is a vital component for the production of nuclear fuel, which is used in nuclear power reactors all over the world (Image: A. Vargas/IAEA). Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element, which has the atomic number of 92 and corresponds to the chemical symbol U in the periodic table.

How does uranium become a nuclear fuel?

On its path to becoming nuclear fuel, uranium goes through solid, liquid and gaseous states of matter.

Is uranium radioactive?

Like all other actinides, uranium is “radioactive” – it decays over time and releases energy in the process. Its special properties make uranium the main source of fuel for nuclear reactors — a chicken-egg sized amount of uranium fuel can provide as much electricity as 88 tonnes of coal.

What is the Nuclear Fuel Working Group's uranium strategy?

On 23 April 2020, the Nuclear Fuel Working Group released a report presenting a comprehensive strategy that outlines potential actions to, among other things, revive capabilities of the uranium mining, milling, and conversion industries.