Ohio Geological Society

State of the 2011 Uranium Industry in the U.S. and Overseas

Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H.
Vice President and Chief Geologist/Hydrogeologist
I2M Associates, LLC
Houston and Seattle

In this presentation, I will first briefly discuss the recent activities of the Energy Minerals Division of AAPG and of its various commodity committees. I will then discuss a range of topics involving uranium exploration and nuclear power. This will range from the pros & cons of nuclear power to public concerns, and to exploration, development and production practices and anticipated yellowcake prices.

I will then discuss the typical concerns still expressed by many anti-nuclear groups and by the media serving them, including various unrealistic expectations they hold, various forms of mis-information they believe, and various half-truths they circulate.

With the above as background, I’ll summarize current conditions and our expectations on the energy picture over the next 30 years, specifically to generate electricity in the U.S., in terms of both small- and large-scale nuclear plants, and in terms of the future source of nuclear fuel (yellowcake) produced in the U.S. and overseas, where new deposits are being discovered at an increasing rate, and perhaps even from the Moon in the foreseeable future.

Abstract