In energy policy discussions, one topic almost never comes up — nuclear fuel shortages. But in a recent Scientific American blog post, Davide Biello points out that a wave of new nuclear plants will dramatically increase demand for uranium. Biello suggests that while reprocessing might become an important part of a weapons-reduction effort, it also might be necessary to expand fuel supply enough to attract investment in new reactors. He writes:

Reprocessing may reduce the demand for fresh uranium fuel. Although various estimates catalog known uranium reserves capable of fueling the existing global fleet of 440 reactors for at least 100 years, the growth in demand for new reactors in China, the U.S. and elsewhere might change that equation. “If we build 200 to 400 more reactors, then it’s definitely only 100 years of supply,” argues [Alan] Hanson, whose company [Areva] is the largest supplier of uranium fuel in the world. “Would you build a nuclear power plant with a 60-year lifetime with only 100 years of supply? I wouldn’t if I was an investor.”