EIA Reports

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
WASHINGTON DC 20585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 31, 1997

U.S. Uranium Production Up 5 Percent in 1996

U.S. uranium concentrate production was 6.3 million pounds in 1996, 5 percent higher than in 1995, according to preliminary Energy Information Administration estimates. This increase was primarily due to a 34-percent increase in production from processing uranium concentrate at "in situ" leach plants.

"In situ" leach mining is an environmentally friendly method for removing uranium by dissolving and rinsing it out of the surrounding materials in the ore deposit. The uranium is refined and then used to fuel the 110 commercial nuclear power plants that power steam turbines to generate electricity in the United States.

EIA's final uranium concentrate production figure will be published later this Spring in the Uranium Industry Annual 1996. For the past 3 years, EIA's preliminary annual uranium production estimate has differed from the final figure by less than one-half percent.

The Energy Information Administration is an independent statistical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating energy information. For information about EIA data and reports contact the National Energy Information Center, Room 1F-048, Forrestal Building, Washington, D.C. 20585, 202-586-8800 or visit EIA's World Wide Web site on the Internet at http://www.eia.doe.gov.

The report described in this press release was prepared by the Energy Information Administration, the independent statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. The information contained in the report and the press release should be attributed to the Energy Information Administration and should not be construed as advocating or reflecting any policy position of the Department of Energy or any other organization.

EIA Program Contact: Douglas Bonnar, 202/426-1249

EIA Press Contact: Thomas R. Welch, 202/586-1468

EIA-97-06

Contact:

National Energy Information Center

Infoctr@eia.doe.gov

Phone:(202) 586-8800

FAX:(202) 586-0727

URL: http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press52.html

If you are having technical problems with this site please contact the EIA Webmaster at mailto:wmaster@eia.doe.gov