Securing the nuclear future – How enhancing Canadian enrichment capacity can help break Russia’s grip on the global uranium supply chain
Quote from the article: Canada’s enrichment potential primarily lies with its leading uranium producer: Cameco. Cameco’s Blind River uranium refinery is the world’s largest and its Port Hope conversion facility contains 21 per cent of the global UF6 conversion capacity. Both facilities are located in Ontario, alongside the manufacturing plants that fabricate the fuel rods for CANDU reactors. Furthermore, Cameco’s increasingly unified efforts with Westinghouse create a formidable powerhouse to rival Rosatom. In 2023, Cameco acquired a 49 per cent stake in Westinghouse. By combining Cameco’s expertise in uranium production with Westinghouse’s proficiency in nuclear energy technology, this partnership strengthens Western enrichment capabilities and bolsters international nuclear fuel security. Adding to this momentum, Cameco recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SaskPower and Westinghouse to explore nuclear technologies and fuel supply chain needs for Saskatchewan, where Cameco is headquartered. Furthermore, the company’s co-ownership of the Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) project with Silex, in North Carolina, demonstrates its pioneering role in developing new fuel technologies such as repurposing uranium tailings and producing HALEU for advanced reactors.
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