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Part 2
Tough Times Ahead for Uranium-Seeking U.S. Utilities
Yesterday, David Christian, Dominion Resources's chief nuclear
officer, held a media tour to a site in Louisa County (Virginia)
where the company hopes to build a third nuclear reactor at the
North Anna power station. He explained to the media that between now
and 2025, U.S. energy consumption will increase by about one-third.
Another 50,000 megawatts of new nuclear power generation will be
needed by 2020 just to maintain the existing energy supply diversity.
The push for new reactors has begun with thirty new nuclear reactors
being planned or proposed, according to recent statement made by the
Nuclear Energy Institute. That's about the same number Russian is
proposing. China is planning or proposing twice as many. "It is
going to be extremely difficult for existing utilities to contract
and build up future supply in an environment where there is an
explosion in growth of new reactor demand," Bambrough warned.
Until now, U.S. utilities have nearly always called the shots in
uranium pricing. Stiff competition from China, Japan and now Russia
has changed the pricing climate as evidenced by the nearly 800-
percent price rise in spot uranium over the past six years. "It's
tough to compete out there," Bambrough explained. "I think the
existing utilities are painted into a tighter box than they realize.
They have got to get behind funding exploration and development of
uranium for themselves. The problem is the U.S. utilities may not
want to sign those contracts, but are competing against nations.
Countries, like China and Russia, can go in and sign big deals."
Bambrough brought up Russia again, "They've put out notes of late
saying they want to invest in mining, where it would be profitable,
anywhere in the world. They've said they want to seek out junior
miners anywhere in the world." On September 12th, China's state-
owned Sinosteel bought into Australian junior miner PepinNini to
develop uranium deposits in northeastern Australia.
This past summer, Russia's state-owned RosAtom struck a deal with
Kazakhstan for extensive uranium mining and additional exploration
in that country. "When Russia says we're going to fund uranium
development, they're not thinking about funding uranium exploration
and development for the Western World," Bambrough pointed out. "They
want it for their own domestic needs. They want to build and sell
power plants. And they've got to get supply." According to the
Natural Resources Ministry, if Russia does not act to expand it
uranium production, the country's stockpiles could dry up within a
decade.
What advice does Bambrough have for U.S. utilities? "They have to
start getting their own supply," he told us. "They need to have
domestic production, and can't just rely on dwindling down
inventories."
He urged utilities to strike joint ventures with U.S. uranium
developers before others do. Bambrough pointed to the recent joint
venture negotiations in progress between Uranium Resources (OTC BB:
URRE) and Japanese mega-conglomerate Itochu corporation. But what
about rumors we've heard from uranium developments companies who
have been quietly talking with U.S. utilities? "Uranium developers
don't need to sell it," he advised. "They're not permitted yet.
What's the point of selling it now, they're only going to be
penalized for it. There may be some companies willing to do a small
token deal, as a small percentage of future production, just to show
they have a contract."
And which uranium developers now score high on the Sprott Asset
Management Market Strategist's list? "Right now, Strathmore Minerals
(TSX: STM, Other OTC: STHJF) has got to be one of my top stock
ideas," Bambrough said. "I think it's one of the stocks that should
be making new highs. I haven't been more positive on Strathmore
since the first day when we started buying it in our funds. I think
it's time for its next leg up."
The Itochu joint venture with Uranium Resources is the reason behind
Bambrough's bullishness on Strathmore. "They've taken the correct
steps to permit some of the best properties – with good grades and
some sizeable deposits – and bring up solid resource numbers," he
explained. But the catalyst is the quiet progress now taking place
in New Mexico. "The region needs a mill," Bambrough pointed out. "In
the region is Energy Metals (TSX: EMC) and Laramide (TSX: LAM) has
some good property," he added. "The bottom line is Itochu is
partnered with Uranium Resources, the property is right next door to
Strathmore Minerals, and Itochu knows they need to build a mill. And
they want to have production by 2009. In a couple of months, that's
only two years away."
And by then, will we be wondering how much beyond $100/pound spot
uranium will run?