The future of nuclear power has been uncertain for a number of years. However, despite somewhat lower forecasts than some years ago, nuclear is emerging again as a major future power source both in this country and throughout the world. Uranium is the mainstay of nuclear power whether alone or in combination with plutonium. If nonproliferation concerns dictate the former, much larger quantities of uranium will be needed than otherwise but, in either case, a many-fold increase in production will be required. Additional uranium resources are being developed in the United States and the world at an adequate rate for the time being, but this rate will have to be increased substantially toward the latter part of the century. United States reserves calculated at a forward produ tion cost of $50/lb of U₃O₈ increased in 1978 by about the same amount as in 1977. Total estimated resources did not change significantly, however, and exploration activity has apparently begun to level off at least for the present. The development of uranium deposits in Texas and successful exploration to expand Texas uranium resources can play a significant, although probably not major, role in meeting United States uranium demand.

End_of_Article - Last_Page 503------------