US utilities have been slow to initiate replacement rate...

US utilities have been slow to initiate replacement rate contracting in the hopes uranium prices would correct lower while at the same time flexing up on their existing contracts with Russian fuel enrichers and fuel fabricators in light of the bill passed to ban Russian uranium imports. they have been waiting for clarification on the exemptions provision allowed under the bill from the US government. i read somewhere that there are currently 22 reactors in the US that are shutdown and slated for decommissioning. on Friday the biggest nuclear utility in the US, constellation energy, announced that they would be restarting the reactors at three mile Island that haven't been in use for many years. this could prove to be the catalyst that lights the fire under operating US utilities to start prioritizing replacement rate contracting, especially given:
- the increasing supply/demand over the next few years,
- the Russian uranium ban,
- Russia announcement they're considering banning uranium exports to the west,
- potentially more US utilities making decisions around restarting shutdown reactors,
- thin trading in the spot market by utilities weary of the effect these trades may have on spot prices

of course ccj benefits most atm due to the fact that they're involved in the full cycle ie mining, conversion, enrichment, and fuel fabrication, but if volume contracting returns, the whole sector could take off

above imo only