In 2006, the Energy Watch Group of Germany studied world uranium supplies and issued a report concluding that, in its most optimistic scenario, the peak of world uranium production will be achieved before 2040. If large numbers of new nuclear power plants are constructed to offset the use of coal as an electricity source, then supplies will peak much sooner. Thomas Seltmann, “Nuclear Power: The Beginning of the End,” Sun & Wind Energy (Energy Watch Group, November 2009). Today, there are some 441 nuclear power reactors operating in 30 countries. These 441 reactors, with combined capacity of over 376 Gigawatts (One GWe equals one billion watts or one thousand megawatts), require 69,000 tonnes of uranium oxide (U3O8). In all there are over 300 reactors being built. Each GWe of increased capacity will require about 195 tU per year of extra mine production – three times this for the first fuel load. In 2008, mines supplied 51,600 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate containing 43,853 tU, which means mining supplied roughly 75% of nuclear utility power requirements. The remaining supply deficit used to be made up from stockpiled uranium held by nuclear power utilities, but their stockpiles are pretty much depleted. Mine production is now primarily supplemented by ex-military material - the Megatons to Megawatts program which ends in 2013 - the Russians have stated that the agreement will not be renewed. The world only has about 70 years' supply of reactor-grade uranium left at current consumption. New reactors are projected to add an incredible 42% more nuclear power plants within the next decade to 15 years. That means our uranium supply will fall even faster albeit there is hope as we currently do not have the technology to use most of the energy embodied in uranium or to use thorium. “If all the world’s electricity was nuclear-generated, the supply of accessible uranium would be exhausted in nine years.” (source Dr. Helen Caldicott, https://www.helencaldicott.com/)