Uranium extraction involves land use, water, energy, tailings management, and radiation protection for workers. These impacts need to be regulated and are not negligible. However, lifecycle analyses include extraction, enrichment, construction, and decommissioning, and continue to indicate low climate-altering emissions per kWh. Extraction therefore does not cancel out the climate advantage of nuclear, although it is an environmental issue that must be managed.
All FAQ
33.
Does uranium mining pollute too much for nuclear to be sustainable?
Not supported by LCA data, but the mining impact is real.
