Uranium Hits Nuclear Button

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Also: 5 Key Technology Trends From Mobile World Congress 2022 View in browser Uranium Hits Nuclear Button War in Ukraine is causing an energy reset. Western governments are rethinking dependence on Russia's oil and gas, and it's a big opportunity for investors. Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Britain will begin developing small scale, modular nuclear power plants. The new energy path is a big win for uranium assets. The emergence of nuclear as a clean energy source seemed unlikely. Nuclear power has been mocked for four decades, but now, that's changing fast. The number of nuclear power plants globally peaked in 1996 when 17.5% of all electric power was generated in those facilities. Since then, public opinion soured, and the political will to keep those plants open waned. The downfall of nuclear energy was caused by a combination of events ... Environmental movements gained global traction in the 1970s, and nuclear energy was the perfect bogeyman. Radiation poisoning was invisible and lethal. This was exploited in 1979 by The China Syndrome, a big budget Hollywood film that mirrored a partial meltdown earlier that year at Three Mile Island, a Pennsylvania nuclear facility. Although epidemiological studies later showed no increase in cancers in the area, fears of living near nuclear facilities grew exponentially. Other problematic nuclear troubles haven't been so benign. A complete meltdown in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor led to the depopulation of 68,000 people across 1,000 square miles in northern Ukraine. In 2011, 154,400 Japanese citizens were evacuated when a nuclear plant in Fukushima was damaged following an earthquake and tsunami. Nuclear power plants all over the world began to close. Today, these facilities generate only 10.3% of the world's electricity. The oddity is nuclear power is clean, green, sustainable and statistically much safer than most other forms of power generation, according to research compiled by Our World in Data. Most people may find the process confusing, but when you break it down at its most elemental level, it's not hard to get: Nuclear facilities are essentially extremely large tea kettles. The power-generation process begins when a neutron collides with a uranium atom, splitting the uranium atom in half (i.e., fission) and releasing an enormous amount of radiation and heat energy. Rods of the fissionable material are cooled in water, creating steam that spins a turbine and creates electricity. Using a turbine to create electricity is also used in most coal and natural gas power plants, the difference is that uranium is a far more efficient source of energy. A single set of rods the size of a fireplace log holds enough energy to power 100 homes for a year. Uranium is also cleaner. Using it to create electricity does not release carbon into the atmosphere. This is especially important as the world races toward zero emissions. Britain used to be a hub of nuclear power innovation. The U.K. had 15 nuclear facilities operating in 1997, generating 27% of the country's electricity. By 2024, only two plants will remain. With the help of Rolls Royce (RYCEY), Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to reverse the trend. The goal is to build smaller power generation facilities based on Rolls' nuclear-powered submarine engines. It might be the perfect solution for an economy shying away from carbon emissions, and the perils of dependence on Russia oil and gas.                                   How Investors Can Go Nuclear Cameco (CCJ) is uniquely positioned to take advantage of both the current geopolitical crisis and the inevitable transition back to nuclear power. The Canadian uranium producer holds the world's largest deposits, and executives are strategically removing supply from the market to maximize the value of those assets. Technology: Reshaping Our Lives As a Forbes reader, you know that transformational technology not only improves lives, it creates huge fortunes as well. If you believe transformational tech holds the key to outsized growth, then you should try Forbes' flagship technology advisory, Fast Forward Investing. Lead by Jon Markman, Fast Forward Investing believes that innovations focused on artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins, robotics and gene editing will transform the way we live and deliver mammoth growth. Click here to try it now. Backed by Forbes' iron-clad money-back guarantee. During a conference call in February, CEO Tim Gitzel told analysts that since 2016, Cameco has removed 190 million pounds of uranium from the spot market. Gitzel notes that the Netherlands, Czechia, Poland, Estonia, Slovenia and Serbia are now studying their nuclear options. Also, the European Union has labeled nuclear power as a climate-friendly investment, giving environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds a green light to begin investing in the sector. Uranium prices have risen to $63.50 per pound in 2022, up 46.1%. Cameco is licensed to produce 53 million pounds annually, and the current market capitalization is only $12.1 billion. Longer-term investors should consider buying Cameco into any further weakness. Remember to always do your own due diligence. Best wishes, Jon D. Markman Elsewhere at Forbes Microsoft And NASA Leverage AI To Streamline Safety In Space The star-filled expanse of space seems calm and peaceful from a distance, but the reality is that outer space is a harsh and unforgiving environment. A new partnership is trying to make things safer for astronauts. Read The Full Story → Chinese Computer Giant Lenovo Plans A Big Push Into The Metaverse Lenovo said it will double R&D investment and add 12,000 professionals over the coming three years for cloud-related research. Read The Full Story → This email was sent to kamyar1.smbemails@blogger.com. Sign up here for Transformational Tech. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may unsubscribe at any time. Please click here to view our privacy policy. Forbes | 499 Washington Blvd | Jersey City, NJ 07310