Weekly Spot Uranium Price Indicator Raised to US$90/PoundERA...

Weekly Spot Uranium Price Indicator Raised to US$90/Pound

ERA ‘Force Majeure’ Stuns Nuclear Utility Community


Flooding at Energy Resources of Australia’s (ERA) Ranger operation in Australia’s Northern Territory led to the company’s announcement of a force majeure. “Even before this Wednesday’s announcement, there were indications that the market price had risen,” wrote Editor Treva Klingbiel in the March 9th edition of Nuclear Market Review. According to the nuclear utility industry trade magazine, bids were increased to purchase U3O8 equivalent at a higher price than the previous record of US$85/pound.

As a result of the increased response to a higher uranium price, industry consulting service TradeTech raised its weekly spot price indicator to US$90/pound. Nuclear Market Review (NMR) reported ERA’s force majeure on uranium sales contracts had ‘stunned the market.’

Nine buyers are actively seeking four million pounds U3O8 equivalent in the spot market, of which about half typically prefer fixed-price offers and are characterized as discretionary buyers. However, NMR warned, “Any upcoming new demand from ERA or its customers would be in the ‘must-have’ category.”

Long-term market demand remains strong and is “strengthening even further,” according to Klingbiel. She forecast several utilities would enter the market to secure long-term uranium supply in the coming weeks. Nineteen utilities are either seeking, or evaluating offers for, more than 55 million pounds of U3O8 equivalent.

The big news story is uranium mining company ERA’s potential loss of as much as four million pounds, compared to 2007 expectations. TradeTech’s Nuclear Market Review asked, “How can this lost production be reasonably accommodated?” Active demand for U3O8 equivalent overwhelms active supply by 220 percent. TradeTech defines active supply as ‘uranium that could be offered for sale in the coming month’ and active demand to include those ‘currently seeking uranium in the market.’

Klingbiel warned, “Doubling the active demand from the addition of ERA’s customers would obviously have an impact on uranium prices.” The magazine reported, “It seems clear the market is rapidly headed to the triple-digit level.” An evident conclusion was also asserted in this week’s magazine, “The uranium market must learn to deal for a while with the uncertainty of production schedules for Ranger.”

TradeTech’s Nuclear Market Review reports the weekly uranium price indicator to nuclear utilities and institutions each Friday. Changes in the weekly spot uranium price indicator are later posted on the consulting services website at....

And in my opinion we aint seen nothing yet.

Cheers

Xan