The challenge of securing uranium from seawater

[Marlin]

The challenge of securing uranium from seawater

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/the-challenge-of-securing-uranium-from-seawater---podcast

[Core Content]

(Image: Supercritical Materials)

Supercritical Materials secured an exclusive Department of Energy license for a patented seawater uranium extraction technology developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The company aims to scale the process to yield commercial quantities of yellowcake by 2033.

Accessing the vast uranium reserves dissolved in the world's oceans could fundamentally alter the nuclear fuel cycle by bypassing conventional mining constraints and geopolitical supply bottlenecks. The proposed industrial design uses specially treated fibers deployed in marine currents, with a final investment decision targeted for 2029.

Supercritical Materials has an exclusive licence from the US Department of Energy for a patented system to extract uranium from the world's oceans. Founder and CEO Canon Bryan outlined the company's plans to the World Nuclear News podcast. ;

There's enough uranium in the world's oceans to power humans' current energy needs for hundreds of thousands of years. The challenge is finding a way to extract it at a cost that makes it a viable option.

There have been various studies and trials carried out over the years - including recently in China and Japan - but Bryan is bullish about his US-based plan being able to harvest uranium from the sea at prices which, at worst, match current prices.

Read the full article at World Nuclear News:
https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/the-challenge-of-securing-uranium-from-seawater---podcast