The desert expanse of southeastern Utah, acclaimed for its iconic red rock arches and intricate canyon labyrinths, is witnessing a potential rebirth of its previously inactive uranium mining sector under the zealous economic vision of President Donald Trump. This region is dotted with countless derelict uranium mines, largely regarded as precarious vestiges of the dual-edged sword of nuclear power from the era of the Cold War. However, it appears that this sleeping industry might awaken with the expedited regulatory approval gained by one mine, an unprecedented event since the 1980s.
Certain procedural delays remained customary for entities like the Anfield Energy’s Velvet-Wood mine, 35 miles to the south of Moab, due to the scrutiny required from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to fully validate the reopening of operations. Surprisingly, President Trump’s administration, under the mandate of a ‘national energy emergency’, gave the approval nod to this project in a record 11 days, significantly expediting the usually lengthy environmental review process pertaining to energy projects.
To have the mine up and running again will necessitate more permits, along with extensive site development. Additionally, the cost of uranium will need to bolster in order to render domestic production economically feasible. Still, such a happening could symbolize the resurgence of this once-dormant industry along with the creation of job opportunities, a prospect the U.S. hasn’t seen since the Reagan administration.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum emphasized President Trump’s clear stance on energy security as being tantamount to national security during his announcement of the fast-tracking policy this April. The policy, devised with the objective to consolidate both energy and national security, is expected to see more green-light cases in the future.
Trump’s directive extends also to oil, gas, coal, biofuel, and hydropower ventures situated on federal lands, solidifying the President’s commitment to the nation’s energy security. However, it does not include renewable energy, a reflection of the administration’s selective approach in promoting energy diversification. The contemporary conditions present a ripe opportunity for the U.S. to burgeon its uranium mining.
In the global market, uranium prices have manifested a twofold increase from their lowest point seven years ago. Furthermore, given the U.S.’s year-long uranium import ban on Russia following their 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the ramping up of domestic uranium mining could potentially rectify a major disparity.
Remarkably, the U.S. relies heavily on imports, approximately 98% of its uranium requirements, to produce almost a third of the world’s nuclear energy. The trio of Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan, the world’s top uranium-mining nations, are responsible for more than two-thirds of these imports into the U.S.
Despite Trump’s agenda to lessen government regulations to encourage US uranium mining, it remains clear that market forces will play a pivotal role. Recent stats show that spot-market prices have rebounded from lows but are still about one-third less than their recent peak in 2024.
John Uhrie, a former uranium executive, indicated that a stable and significant increase in uranium prices is a prerequisite for genuine revitalization of the uranium sector. According to him, substantial capital investment is necessary for the operation of these mining ventures, a factor significantly dependent on favorable uranium prices.
One sign of the potential resurgence is evident in the Southwest, where the industry has shown promising signs of life. Anfield Energy, a Canada-based company, has ambitious plans to restart operations at the Shootaring Canyon uranium mill. The mill, which was initially closed in the early 1980s, transforms raw ore into ‘yellowcake’. This powdery substance is later refined elsewhere into the fuel required for nuclear reactions.
Anfield’s plans extend beyond just the mill – the Velvet-Wood mine is also being considered for reopening. The company, however, has not made any official announcements or comments regarding these developments. Parallel to this, Canada-based Energy Fuels, the leading uranium miner in the U.S., successfully commenced operations at the Pinyon Plain mine in late 2023.
In southeastern Utah, just off U.S. 191, the Uranium Fuels’ White Mesa mill stands as the nation’s sole operational uranium mill. This mill serves as a symbolic representation of the industry’s potential revitalization and its monumental contributions to the U.S. energy infrastructure.
The town of Moab has had a long association with uranium, beyond its current fame as a bustling hub for desert tourism. The small town’s entangled history with post-World War II uranium mining is visible even today, as can be seen in the names of places like the Atomic Hair Salon, punning on both the nuclear and hair styling trends.
Most notably, the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action project, a sprawling 480-acre site, is the most evident reminder of the town’s uranium-intensive past. It’s a shining example of the billions spent and decades invested by the U.S. Department of Energy to safely remove the toxic remnants of the uranium mining industry, a feat expected to be completed within the next five years.
Predicated on the current favorable market prices for uranium and the national commitment to energy security, domestic production of uranium appears to be a viable prospect. However, a successful revival of the industry, from mining to processing to producing nuclear fuel, will require a monumental effort on behalf of industry leaders, backed by robust national policies. As the noteworthy efforts of the Trump administration point out, the rejuvenation seems to be underway.
The post Trump’s Vision: Awakening the Dormant Uranium Mining Sector appeared first on Real News Now.
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