South Africa plans to restrict uranium exports

South African minerals and energy minister Buyelwa Sonjica is planning to limit uranium exports from the country, according to a news report by Bloomberg. The move is intended to ensure that the country will be able to satisfy its own demand for the radioactive metal.

South Africa, whose electricity production falls short of demand, plans to build more generating stations, both nuclear and coal-fired. Currently the country operates one nuclear station in Koeberg. Because raising local generating capacity is a priority, the country will only export uranium considered surplus to its own requirements.

The country is also developing an experimental nuclear reactor known as the pebble bed modular reactor.

South Africa produces uranium from primary uranium mining, from gold mine tailings, and as a by-product from gold mining.

According to the World Nuclear Association, South Africa produced about 540 tonnes of uranium in 2007, while worldwide production was about 41,000 tonnes.