Thread by @quakes99

1) #Uranium underfeeding/overfeeding🍼👶 what the heck is that?🤔 I'll try to explain in a thread that eliminates as much complexity as possible using a "Vending Machine" as a way to keep it plain & simple 😀🧵⬇️2

2) Most #Nuclear reactors can't run on raw #Uranium that comes out of a mine in the form of #U3O8.⛏️ They need fuel called Enriched Uranium Product (EUP) that's turned into small pellets that are loaded into fuel rods which in turn get loaded into reactors⚛️⚡️⬇️3

3) Imagine there are special EUP vending machines set up around the world where #Nuclear reactor fuel buyers walk up to a machine, select Quantity/Grade of EUP fuel they need🔘 & then insert the required quantity of mined #Uranium indicated for their order🪙⬇️4

4) Ignoring that it can take 2 years for the machine to turn #Uranium into EUP loaded #Nuclear fuel rods,🦥 the machines have another magical feature.🎩🐰🪄 If they're not busy processing a lot of orders, they dispense EUP AND some of the Uranium you originally inserted.⚛️+🪙 ⬇️5

5) Partial refund of #Uranium inserted into the machine is what #Nuclear industry calls "secondary supply". Only happens when EUP machine is not running at full capacity.🐌 Fuel buyers can insert that refunded Uranium on their next order, reducing demand (& price) for mined U.⬇️6

6) However if all of a sudden there's a massive line-up at an EUP vending machine it switches operation.🔀 When #Nuclear fuel buyers select Quantity/Grade of EUP needed🔘 the machine displays a far higher amount of mined #Uranium to complete new order compared to last one.🪙🪙⬇️7

7) Instead of getting EUP + partial refund, the machine only gives you the EUP #Nuclear fuel ordered⚛️ even tho a lot more #Uranium had to be inserted.🪙🪙 That extra Uranium to get same EUP is what's called "secondary demand" for more mined uranium (pushing up U prices)⛏️💲📈⬇️8

8) So, basically EUP machines operate in two modes: Underfeeding when not busy🐌 using less #Uranium than needed & putting some uranium back into the market; OR Overfeeding when super busy🏇 needing extra #Uranium that adds more demand for mined supply.⛏️💲 Get the picture?🖼️ ⬇️9

9)#Russia owns nearly half of world's EUP vending machines.⚛️🇷🇺 If US, EU and others ban the use of Russian EUP machines✖️ then all the Western EUP machines suddenly become super busy🏇 in Overfeeding,🪙🪙 spiking Western Uranium demand🇨🇦🇺🇸🇦🇺⛏️⏫ & spiking U prices💲📈 ⬇️10

10) Last word.🤐 If a ban on using #Russia's EUP spikes #Uranium demand for overfeeding Western EUP machines,⏫ and West for some reason also decides to ban imports from world's largest U miner & Russian ally #Kazakhstan⛏️ just when needed the most... Skyrockets will fly!🚀🎇🎆🌜