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As at November 2012, there were about 434 nuclear power reactors operating worldwide, with a combined output of 372 760 MWe, and more than 60 such reactors are under construction. Until February 2011, nuclear energy had been gaining rapid momentum as an energy source for nations seeking to reduce harmful carbon emissions, when the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, in 1986, occurred at Japan’s Fukushima plant. The earthquake and tsunami, which crippled the plant, led to the closure of almost all of Japan’s 54 reactors and spurred Germany, among other countries, to pledge to close all of its nuclear reactors by 2022. Regardless of public fears following the disaster, firm plans are under way in leading Western countries for the construction of additional reactors.

According to the World Nuclear Association, there will be 650 nuclear reactors operating by 2032. Accordingly, yearly reactor related uranium requirements worldwide are forecast to rise from 63 875 t of uranium at the end of 2010 to between 98 000 t and 136 000 t of uranium by 2035.

This report examines the global market for uranium, with a special focus on uranium mining on the African continent, highlighting the activities of major African uranium producers.

The report is a summary of information published in Engineering News and Mining Weekly, as well as information available in the public domain and does not purport to provide analysis of market trends.

Published on: 12 December 2012.

Table of contents

List of abbreviations 1

Global market 2–9

• Supply 4
• Demand 5
• Pricing 7
• Uranium market outlook 9

Uranium mines, projects and exploration in Africa 11–26

• Major uranium-producing countries in Africa 11–22
• Niger 12
• Namibia 13
• South Africa 17
• Malawi 21

Other uranium-producing countries in Africa 22–26

• Algeria 22
• Botswana 22
• Central African Republic 23
• Gabon 23
• Guinea 24
• Mali 24
• Mauritania 24
• Morocco 25
• Mozambique 25
• Nigeria 25
• Tanzania 25
• Zambia 26
• Zimbabwe 26

Main sources 27–31