1) Long before #Russia, world's main enriched #Uranium supplier, sent shock waves thru #Nuclear fuel markets😱 by invading #Ukraine🪖 mined #U3O8 was already in a sustained deficit⬇️⛏️ with demand for #CarbonFree Nuclear surging.⬆️🏗️⚛️ A Uranium #investing thesis thread 4U🤠🐂👇2
2) #Uranium #mining #stocks are famous⭐️ for delivering investors extraordinary life-altering returns😎🍹🏝️ when they enter a boom cycle⤴️ after a long painful bear market for #Nuclear fuel😩 when supply/demand fundamentals shift🌊 as they have now in a strong bull market🤠🐂👇3
3) #Uranium is a cyclical commodity🔃 that goes through boom & bust cycles based on supply vs demand imbalances⚖️ magnified to extremes🌜 by supply security fears😟 as there is no substitute fuel for #nuclear reactors⚠️ so fear can lead to panic buying by nuclear utilities🛒👇4
4) World #Nuclear Association reports 439 operable reactors (392 GW) & 56 more under construction (62GW)⚛️🏗️ of which 26 are expected to come online this year & next.⚡️🌞 96 more in advanced planning/ordered + 325 proposed🧾 for projected +2.6%/yr growth rate↗️🏗️🤠🐂 #Uranium 👇5
5) To achieve #NetZero emissions, #China plans to build 150 new #Nuclear reactors over next 15 years, #India plans to triple its nuclear fleet by 2031, #France & #UK are leading a resurgence in #Europe & mass-produced Small Modular Reactors #SMR's are gaining momentum.⬆️⚛️🏗️🌞👇6
6) But #Uranium supply is in a deep, sustained multi-year deficit.⬇️ #Nuclear fuel consultants TradeTech see 200M lbs of #U3O8 demand in 2022 but just 135M lbs of mined production + 25M lbs of Secondary Supply (underfeeding, mobile inventory) for net 40M lbs deficit.🗜️⛏️😨🐂 👇7
7) Existing #Uranium mines are being depleted↘️ but there's been a lack of investment in exploration & development of new mines during last 10 years of low #U3O8 prices.🤿⛏️ New investment💰 & sustained far higher U prices needed for mine restarts & new mine construction.🏭🐂👇8
8) #Uranium prices rise when supply is scarce🏜️ which in turn triggers more production to meet demand🏭 but because it's the most highly regulated of mined metals📚 subject to extremes of environmental scrutiny🌲🧐 bringing new mines online is very costly💰 & very slow🐌 👇9
9) Long delays getting new #Uranium mines built & idled mines restarted🦥 plus other unforeseen events😱 as #Nuclear fuel demand grows🏗️⚛️ can lead to fears of an intense supply deficit⏬ launching uranium prices higher & higher🚀 as buyers panic that they won't get fuel😱 👇10
10) New @Sprott Physical #Uranium Trust🏦 has added even more fuel⛽️ to macro fundamentals fire already burning under U #mining stocks🔥 with $3.5B in financing💰 & daily At-the-Market program🏧 to purchase & hoard🔒 millions of lbs of Spot #U3O8, hastening U price rise.🏎️📈👇11
11) New mines⛏️ to meet today's #Uranium demand🛒 should have been financed, licensed & built yesterday🏭 to avoid today's major supply deficit.⚠️ Now a sustained far higher #U3O8 price💲💲 & many $Billions of new investment is needed to build the required new mines ASAP💵🏇👇12
12) But building large new #Uranium mines can take many years💤 for this highly regulated commodity.🐌 Even if U prices were to soar overnight to $200/lb🚀 that can't speed up mine permitting & construction🦥 so U #stocks are now poised to deliver life-changing gains 4 U 💰😎🍸🌜
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