Advanced Nuclear, the Official Podcast of UCAN Power 17 - Elmer Dyke: Fuel, the Key to a Robust Nuclear Industry
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Aug 11, 2025 Elmer Dyke, an internationally-recognized nuclear fuels expert and founder of New Horizons Nuclear Associates, shares his insights on the nuclear fuel industry. He discusses the entire fuel supply chain, from mining to fabrication, highlighting the challenges posed by the ban on Russian uranium imports. Elmer explores the need for new enrichment capacities and fuel forms for Generation IV reactors, as well as the potential for the U.S. to become more self-sufficient in nuclear fuel production. A must-listen for anyone interested in the future of nuclear energy!
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U.S. Uranium Production Is Far Too Small
- U.S. uranium mining capacity is a tiny fraction of demand and largely junior-run today.
- Elmer Dyke says domestic production is under 2% of U.S. needs and could reach ~20% over 5–10 years.
Conversion Is The Hidden Bottleneck
- Conversion capacity is a bottleneck because Western supply is limited and facilities left the business when prices were low.
- Dyke warns that without sufficient UF6 conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication cannot proceed.
Secure Funding And TRL Before Building
- Final funding decisions are critical before firms start long-lead purchases and construction of conversion or enrichment plants.
- Dyke urges developers to achieve high TRL testing and secure funding before committing to build-out.