John Quakes Profile picture
Jun 12, 2022 19 tweets 21 min read Read on X
1/19) #Uranium - a Tutorial👨‍🏫 walking U thru the #Nuclear fuel cycle, what it is, the stages & issues involved, so U can understand the term that has every Uranium investor smacking their lips today: Overfeeding!😋 Here's a thread that I hope gives U some key insights.🌞⚛️⛏️🧵👇2
2) #Uranium is a very different fuel than #coal & #gas that are burned "as is" in #electricity power plants.🏭⚡️ #Nuclear reactor fuel needs to be specially processed & then loaded into fuel rods that are then loaded into reactors to generate #CarbonFree electricity.🌞⚛️⚡️👇3 Image
3) Mined #Uranium⛏️ is processed into drums of Yellow Cake #U3O8🛢️ that in the west are shipped🚢🚛 to plants in Canada, US & France for "Conversion" into a new form called #UF6 which is then shipped in cylinders🚛 to plants in US & Europe for "Enrichment" into reactor fuel.⚛️👇4 Image
4) Enriched #Uranium (EUP) is then shipped🚛 to a fuel fabrication plant🏭 where it is processed into solid "Pellets" that are loaded into reactor fuel rods bundled into "fuel assemblies" ready to be shipped🚛 to #Nuclear power plants for loading into reactors⚛️⚡️🌞🧵👇5 ImageImageImageImage
5) These #Uranium stages of processing are together called the "#Nuclear Fuel Cycle".⚛️ Operators of reactors have to sign contracts🧾 with companies providing Mining, Conversion, Enrichment, Fuel Fabrication, and as well must arrange shipments between each facility. 🌎🚢🚛🚂👇6 Image
6) With #Uranium having to be shipped to plants in various locations worldwide for each of the #Nuclear fuel cycle stages, as fuel buyers compete for contracts to get their reactor fuel processed, it can take 2+ years to go from mined #U3O8⛏️ to delivered fuel assemblies.⚛️🦥👇7 ImageImage
7) So #Nuclear reactor fuel must be ordered/contracted at least 2 years before it is scheduled for loading into reactors.😯 That lead time can be cut in half✂️ if reactor operators buy already converted #UF6 held by a supplier, bypassing #Uranium #mining & conversion stages.🐎👇8
8) Which brings us to "underfeeding."🍼 Without getting too technical👶 after Fukushima in 2011, demand for enriched #Uranium fell⤵️ but for technical reasons enrichment devices have to be kept spinning at full throttle.🌀 Enrichers switched gears⚙️ to operate differently🧵👇9 Image
9) Enrichers can spin the #UF6 feed for longer periods to achieve the desired #Uranium enrichment % while using less UF6.😯 A contract might call for 6 x UF6 cylinders, but enricher would only use 5 then sell the extra UF6 back into the market.💰 That is "underfeeding"🍼🧵👇10 Image
10) Underfeeding led to an excess of #UF6 in the market, known as "secondary supply", that #Nuclear utilities could buy instead of signing contracts for Conversion.🧾✖️ Demand & prices for Conversion & mined #U3O8 plummeted.⤵️ Honeywell shut down only US Conversion plant!🇺🇸😯👇11 Image
11) Demand for mined #U3O8 plummeted⤵️⛏️ due to oversupply, many mines were idled to cut supply✂️ & mine development projects delayed or cancelled.✖️ Investment in exploration & development fell off a cliff💰↘️ as did #Uranium prices😟.. but that's all changed now!😃⚛️🏗️⤴️🐂👇12 ImageImageImage
12) Today #Nuclear power capacity & #Uranium demand is greater now than it was before Fukushima.⚛️⤴️🤠🐂 Demand is surging in a global decarbonization drive to fight #ClimateChange & achieve #NetZero🌞in midst of an #EnergyCrisis.⚡️ A 'Nuclear Renaissance' is now underway.🏗️👇13 ImageImage
13) Even before #Russia invaded #Ukraine to create geopolitical chaos🪖💣 #Nuclear fuel demand was circa 200 Million lbs of #Uranium this year, but mined supply at only 135 Million lbs.🤯 'Underfeeding' by enrichers was providing about 20M lbs/year to reduce that deficit.🍼👇14 Image
14) #Russia has been supplying 39% of global enriched #Uranium, 27% of Conversion & 14% of mined U supply.⚛️⛏️ #Nuclear utilities in US & Europe are now pivoting away from Russian supply🇷🇺⛏️⛔️ with shipping also disrupted🚢🚛🚂impacting ~20% of US & #EU #Nuclear fuel supply✂️👇15 ImageImage
15) Demand for Western enriched #Uranium has surged⤴️⚛️ spiking prices for Enrichment(SWU) like never seen before⏫as #Nuclear utilities scramble to find alternative supply.🛒 There's not enough capacity in US & Europe to meet demand so enrichers are switching gears again⚙️🏎️👇16 Image
16) Western 'underfeeding' is over✖️ as enrichers are switching to 'overfeeding'🍼🍼 so they can produce enriched #Uranium at a faster pace.🏇 By feeding extra UF6 they can shorten enrichment time to try to keep up with demand, but must buy the extra #UF6 feed in the market🛒👇17 Image
17) But #Nuclear fuel consultants are saying that supply of #UF6 is running out.🏜️ More Conversion of mined #U3O8 is needed ASAP in order to produce more #UF6.⏫ Cost of Conversion has risen to an all-time high.🌋 Luckily, Honeywell is restarting their US conversion plant🏭🇺🇸👇18 Image
18) As Conversion ramps back up,⤴️ #Nuclear utilities must purchase more mined #U3O8🛒⛏️ to be converted to #UF6🏭 so enrichers can "overfeed"🍼🍼 to produce more enriched #Uranium to replace lost Russian supply.🇷🇺⛔️ This is the "knock-on effect" that has yet to hit #U3O8🌊⛏️👇19 Image
19) 'Underfeeding' created 'Secondary Supply' which now flips to 'Secondary Demand'🙃 due to 'overfeeding'🍼🍼 which will drive up #Uranium demand,⏫ deepen the massive supply deficit⏬ & send #U3O8 prices & U #mining #stocks skyward🚀 in the months & years ahead.🤠🐂 Got it?😉 Image

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More from @quakes99

Oct 20
📝Dear fellow #Uranium & #Nuclear #energy enthusiasts,🤠
Six weeks ago I explained to U that I will be taking a sabbatical from TwiXtter to focus on pressing family issues👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 and personal needs.👴 However, after a very strong show of your support,🥰 I agreed to a compromise of tweeting out on weekends and chiming in when there was major sector news to cover.⚡️🔔😲 I wasn't expecting that to set off a non-stop stream of huge news items with major implications for Uranium #mining #stocks investors!📰🎆🤠🐂 Who opened the floodgates?🌊 Was that U?🫵😆 I've been putting my sabbatical on hold while trying to keep up!🏃‍♂️ It's been an amazing journey these past 6 weeks!🧑‍🚀🚀

😔However, at the moment I'm dealing with a serious health situation for a family member who is in the midst of a protracted period of treatment & recovery that will likely continue into next year.🩻🩺🧑‍⚕️🏥 I've been juggling my time to try to cover the many competing demands for my attention.🤹‍♂️ It's been impossible to step away from the incredible tsunami of bullish Nuclear & Uranium action of late😩 but I do need to cut way back on my TwiXtter time🐦💻✂️ and I will be absent altogether from time to time.🧳

To prepare U for my reduced TwiXtter news coverage and unavoidable absences, I gifted U a list of folks U should follow 🎁👾 and websites that U might want to visit for your research.📚🧐 Here they are again.🗒️👇 Turn on Notifications if U want to be notified by TwiXtter when your favourite follows are posting.🔔☑️😀

📝 These are some of the X accounts that I have turned on Notifications for that U might want to follow too.🔔👇 (Please don't take offense if you're not currently on my notification list.🙏)

Breaking Uranium & Nuclear News:
@capnek123
@TheMongrel_Cat
@JekyllCapital
@leggett_john
@piterloskot82
@charles_norton1
@philip_neate
@hcrubin2009
@SStapczynski
@AriNatter
@AtomicAttorney

General Uranium & Nuclear News + Commentary:
@Yellowbull11
@uraniuminsider
@duediligenceguy
@W_Nuclear_News
@energybants
@HopfJames
@NucNetNews
@U3O8TradeTech
@UxC_Nuclear
@TheNuclearCo
@NuclearPowersMD
@urencoglobal
@INL
@ANS_org
@sightlineu3o8
@PippaStevens13
@Sonalcpatel
@yasir_fission
@PortCityHorgan
@sollidnuclear
@argonne
@ExnerPirot
@AngelicaOung
@pretentiouswhat
@Go_Rozen

Uranium Company coverage:
@CruxInvestor
@TheNextBigRush
@UraniumEquities
@RedCloudSec
@RedCloudFS
@HoldcoMarkets
@StefiMaher
@oceanwall2
@lawse
@MoshiGordon

Continued in Part 2 of this thread...👇🧵Image
Part 2 - #Uranium & #Nuclear #Energy Folks to Follow:

ETF's & money flows:
@hanetf
@Hector_McNeil
@timrotolo
@Range_NUKZX
@Range_Funds
@globalxca
@patmvcr
@GrantChalmers

Automated real-time @Numerco Spot price alerts:
@NorjackNC

SPUT Daily:
@skysurfer75

Analysis & Charts:
@hchris999
@U308RM
@tepuuma
@TBirdV
@Napalm_1_
@gjermundgroven

Oracles:
@SloCan68
@Convertbond

Uranium investor porn, memes & satire:
@UrTokenCorgi

Fact-checkers:
@YellowCaker
@jeffgeringer92

Videos & Podcasts:
@knarfmartini2
@antonioresource
@CruxInvestor
@jessebday
@SmithWeekly
@JamesConnor1999
@BloorStreetCap
@ErikSTownsend

Continued in Part 3 of this thread...👇🧵Image
Part 3 - #Uranium & #Nuclear #Energy Folks to Follow:

Companies:
@cameconews
@NAC_Kazatomprom
@Sprott
@centrus_energy
@CNSC_CCSN
@CN_Nuclear_Corp
@ilovekhnp_eng
@urencoglobal
@Orano_usa
@Oranogroup
@Framatome_
@FramatomeUS
@enCoreEnergy_EU
@GoransonPaul
@Billsheriff_
@nuclearfuels
@Ur_Energy
@AmirAdnani
@UraniumEnergy
@Energy_Fuels
@PEN_Energy
@Skyharbour_SYH
@IsoEnergyLtd
@ForumEnergyMC
@Anfield_Energy
@pegasusresinc
@MrChris_Timmins
@ATHAenergycorp
@DenisonMinesCo
@FissionUranium
@NexGenEnergy_
@F3Uranium
@StrathmorePlus
@StandardUranium
@AtomicCorp
@GoviExUranium
@CosaResources
@MyriadUranium
@tdlamb
@district_metals

Continued in Part 4 of this thread...👇🧵Image
Read 7 tweets
Oct 6
1)If U are a newbie👶 unfamiliar with #Uranium, a commodity unlike any other with its own unique concepts & terminology such as #U3O8, Conversion, #UF6 & enrichment SWU😖then this Tutorial thread👨‍🏫 on the #Nuclear fuel cycle♻️⚛️⛏️ may help U to ride the bull wave!🌊🏄🤠🐂🧵👇../2 Image
2) #Uranium is very different from fuels like #coal & #gas that are burned "as is" in #electricity power plants.🏭⚡️ #Nuclear fuel needs to be specially processed and then packaged into fuel rods that are then loaded into reactors to generate #CarbonFree electricity.🌞⚛️⚡️👇../3 Image
3)Mined #Uranium⛏️ is processed into drums of Yellow Cake #U3O8🛢️ that in the West are shipped to plants in Canada, US & France for "Conversion" into a gas form called #UF6, which is then shipped in cylinders to plants in US & Europe for "Enrichment" into #Nuclear fuel⚛️🏭👇.../4 Image
Read 14 tweets
Jun 10
1) U may feel gut-punched🥊 or prayers answered😇 by a #Uranium #mining #stocks pullback📉🎭 but every day now we see surging #Nuclear demand⏫⚛️🏗️ while a new US ban on Russian U🇷🇺🚢⛔️🇺🇸 adds even more need for Western #U3O8 in a deep supply deficit.🗜️⏬⛏️ Here's a thread 4U🧵👇 Image
2)#Uranium is a commodity like no other🧬 with unique terminology such as #U3O8, Conversion, #UF6 & enrichment SWU😖 in a #Nuclear fuel cycle♻️⚛️⛏️ where price signals are now indicating huge incoming bull market waves🌊 that perhaps I can help U prepare to ride !🏄💰🤠🐂🧵👇../3 Image
3) #Uranium is very different from fuels like #coal & #gas that are burned "as is" in #electricity power plants.🏭⚡️ #Nuclear fuel needs to be specially processed and packaged into fuel rods that are then loaded into reactors to generate #CarbonFree electricity.🌞⚛️⚡️🧵👇../4 Image
Read 15 tweets
Feb 12
If U are a newbie👶 unfamiliar with #Uranium, a commodity unlike any other with its own unique concepts & terminology such as #U3O8, Conversion, #UF6 & enrichment SWU😖 then this Tutorial thread👨‍🏫 on the #Nuclear fuel cycle♻️⚛️⛏️ may help U to ride the bull wave!🌊🏄🤠🐂🧵👇../2 Image
2) #Uranium is a very different fuel unlike #coal & #gas that are burned "as is" in #electricity power plants.🏭⚡️ #Nuclear fuel needs to be specially processed and then packaged into fuel rods that are then loaded into reactors to generate #CarbonFree electricity.🌞⚛️⚡️👇../3 Image
3)Mined #Uranium⛏️is processed into drums of Yellow Cake #U3O8🛢️that in the West are shipped🚢🚛 to plants in Canada, US & France for "Conversion" into a gas form called #UF6 which is then shipped in cylinders🚛 to plants in US & Europe for "Enrichment" into #Nuclear fuel⚛️👇../4 Image
Read 14 tweets
Jan 25
1) With #Uranium Explorers mobilizing for winter drilling in #Canada's #AthabascaBasin⛏️ it's time⏳ for a thread on how to interpret drill data🗒️ coming soon in news releases.📰 Misunderstanding data can lead to missed opportunities.💰😟 Maybe I can help U get ready!👨‍🏫🧵👇.../2 Image
2) #Uranium explorers drill rock core samples looking for signs of #U3O8 bearing ore.🧐 Rarely do they hit high-grade on first few attempts.😟 Geologists first look for visual signs in the core samples. Here's a description from pre-discovery 2013 drilling at $NXE's Arrow👇.../3

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3) Visual inspection of core samples is just 1 of many steps taken to see if #uranium is found. Presence of radioactivity is best indicator☢️ so all cores are scanned with an instrument called a Hand-held Scintillometer to produce "Scint" CPS tables for each core interval.🗒️.../4Image
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Read 11 tweets
Jan 16
If you've heard about #Uranium soaring past $100 to 16-year highs💯🎇🦻🐦 amidst a global #Nuclear #energy resurgence⤴️⚛️bringing unprecedented U demand⛏️🛒 and wonder how U can invest💵🤔 in U #mining #stocks famous for spectacular gains🎆💰😃 here's a🧵on ways U can play.🤠🐂👇 Image
If you're just beginning to invest in #Uranium #mining #stocks👶 then a great starter🥣 is #investing in a 100% Pure-Play Uranium ETF: $URNM 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇦🇺 or Horizons Global Uranium Index ETF $HURA 🇨🇦 giving U broad #U3O8 sector exposure⛏️😃 while U do your research📚🧐👇#Nuclear⚛️🤠🐂
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The world's largest and most liquid #Uranium ETF with $2.8 Billion AUM💰 is offered by Global X but is weighted at only 70% U #stocks⚠️ with the other 30% for #Nuclear component makers⚛️🏭 & generic miners⛏️at ticker $URA 🇺🇸 also offered as $URNU 🇬🇧 and $ATOM 🇦🇺 🤠🐂 Image
Read 11 tweets

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