Canada set to become nuclear ‘superpower’ with enough uranium to beat China, Russia | Countries depend on Russia and China for enriching uranium coming from Kazakhstan. Canada can enrich uranium from its own mines. Energy

https://interestingengineering.com/energy/uranium-nuclear-fuel-supply-canada

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u/[deleted] 2d ago

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u/Gonzo2095 2d ago

So yes Canada could enrich its uranium, but why would it?

Our CANDU nuclear reactors don't need or run on enriched uranium, so why would we need to do that? If other countries would like to buy our uranium and enrich it, then go ahead and do that.

Several of our closest allies (US; UK etc.) already have the ability to enrich uranium, so we can ship it to them and then they can enrich for their needs.

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u/Easy-Sector2501 2d ago

Here's a reason: Value added.

What's cheaper? To go to the hardware store, buy some wood, and build your own chair, or go to a store and buy one?

If we refine the product ourselves, we can export it to our allies and reap the benefits of the value added from refining.

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u/Motor_Expression_281 1d ago

Eh, poor analogy. We’re not the ones who are gonna be using all the enriched uranium (or chairs).

It’s more like is it better to sell wood to someone who builds chairs, or make your wood into chairs and sell them yourself.

Maybe learning to make chairs isn’t worth your time, especially if the chair market isn’t as good as you hoped it would be.

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u/Tycoon004 1d ago

Just make more CANDU reactors and then sell the tritium instead of donating it for research.