Characteristics of uranium resource development and PNC's uranium exploration activities

摘要

In order to secure a steady supply of naturaluranium, PNC (Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel DevelopmentCorporation) was in charge of exploration that was too risky forJapanese private sectors.Uranium price rose high in 1970 5 however, it declined in 1980.Moreover, owing to the end of the cold war, uranium of theformer soviet union begun to enter into the western market in1990, that kept the price in very low level.The subsequent long slump in the price of uranium led most ofJapanese private sectors to discontinue their exploration activities.Upon this situation, PNC pursued more advanced stageexploration; PNC shifted its targets into major uranium regionsand improved exploration techniques for blind deposits. As theresult, PNC has acquired significant uranium explorationproperties and interests comparable with major uraniumcompanies. In 1998, Japanese government made a decision toreform PNC that included withdrawal of PNC from uranium exploration.This report summarizes the characteristics of uranium resourcedevelopment and its history, as well as PNC's exploration activities.