Is renewal on the way?

摘要

The continued pressure from decreased demand as a result of the accident at the Fukushima site in Japan was counter-balanced by the extended shutdown of a primary converter's conversion capacity. Existing facilities are ageing, but several converters are moving forward with investments at both existing and new facilities, providing confidence that both current and future new demand can be met reliably. The Honeywell International Metropolis Works uranium conversion facility in Metropolis, Illinois, which shut down production in mid-2012 to address facility upgrades required by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), was given permission to restart in July 2013 after extensive upgrades. Cameco Corporation was also granted regulatory approval to expand UO~3 production capacity at its Blind River refinery as well as a new 10-year operating licence for the facility.