• 519 days Will The ECB Continue To Hike Rates?
  • 519 days Forbes: Aramco Remains Largest Company In The Middle East
  • 521 days Caltech Scientists Succesfully Beam Back Solar Power From Space
  • 921 days Could Crypto Overtake Traditional Investment?
  • 926 days Americans Still Quitting Jobs At Record Pace
  • 928 days FinTech Startups Tapping VC Money for ‘Immigrant Banking’
  • 931 days Is The Dollar Too Strong?
  • 931 days Big Tech Disappoints Investors on Earnings Calls
  • 932 days Fear And Celebration On Twitter as Musk Takes The Reins
  • 934 days China Is Quietly Trying To Distance Itself From Russia
  • 934 days Tech and Internet Giants’ Earnings In Focus After Netflix’s Stinker
  • 938 days Crypto Investors Won Big In 2021
  • 938 days The ‘Metaverse’ Economy Could be Worth $13 Trillion By 2030
  • 939 days Food Prices Are Skyrocketing As Putin’s War Persists
  • 941 days Pentagon Resignations Illustrate Our ‘Commercial’ Defense Dilemma
  • 942 days US Banks Shrug off Nearly $15 Billion In Russian Write-Offs
  • 945 days Cannabis Stocks in Holding Pattern Despite Positive Momentum
  • 946 days Is Musk A Bastion Of Free Speech Or Will His Absolutist Stance Backfire?
  • 946 days Two ETFs That Could Hedge Against Extreme Market Volatility
  • 948 days Are NFTs About To Take Over Gaming?
  1. Home
  2. Markets
  3. Other

What Germany’s Political Decision To Exit Nuclear Means For Uranium Mining Stocks?

Deutschland (EWG) is taking the wrong road again. It is a decision that is political and irrational motivated in response to the Green Party. It makes one wonder what some politicians do to try to get elected.

The leaders of German Industry have written an open letter stating that the ending of German Nuclear Energy with such "unprecedented haste" gives us increasing worry.

Germany has been the crown industrial jewel maintaining a profitable economy in the heartland of an otherwise deficit ridden Europe. The Chief Executive of Daimler Motors voiced fear about Germany's abrupt about face in nuclear policy.

The huge power requirements of Germany's heavy manufacturing companies which are the flower of the European economy, will now be dependent on power sources from France and Russia. Could this be a potential black swan?

Germany's electricity prices which has more than doubled in the last ten years, now become a sensitive issue for German Industry. This nuclear transition is forcing an increased reliance not only on coal (KOL) but nuclear energy from France (EWQ) and natural gas (UNG) from Russia.

This is no way to run a modern industrial nation.

Angela Merkel, the current Prime Minister is running scared and scuttling Europe's (FXE) most advanced modern industrial machine.

It is important that readers be aware that the left socialist based anti-nuclear movement in Germany was strong long before Fukushima. The Japanese tragedy provided the ammunition needed by the anti-industrial left. The nuclear plants (NLR) were growing old in need of revamping.

Chancellor Schroder who preceded Merkel was sympathetic to the Green Party and committed to a nuclear(URA) phase-out plan by 2022. Merkel's response in late 2010 was to attempt to extend the nuclear exit by 12 additional years.

Many riots and demonstrations occurred in response to Merkel's move. She was under pressure to give in to Socialist demands when Fukushima provided the immediate excuse for Merkel to reverse her policy and decide to close all of Germany's Nuclear Plants. Now you know the rest of the story.

We see that Germany's decision to forsake their nuclear reactors was a long time coming. This is despite Merkel's statement which was misleading when she said, "After what was an unimaginable disaster at Fukushima, we had to reconsider the role of nuclear energy." She announced the decision at a news conference in the presence of several of her cabinet ministers to close all of the reactors by 2022.

This is a sharp policy reversal that will make Germany (EWG) the first major modern industrial nation to abandon nuclear power (NLR). Merkel's move is in contrast with the U.S.(SPY), China(FXI), India, Russia (RBL) and many other countries who are continuing full speed ahead with safe and up to date nuclear power plants.

There are currently 62 modern and efficient power plants being built all over the world including 27 in China, 5 in India, 11 in Russia and even 2 in Japan (EWJ) among many others that have elected to continue turning on nuclear power (URA). In fact, uranium is fast approaching a supply-demand deficit and a possible shortage in uranium ore(PKN).

There are 443 operating reactors, which does not include new plants coming online, which need over 180 million pounds of uranium annually. The world produces only 130 million pounds a year. Already there is a shortfall of 50 million pounds annually which is being filled until 2013 by the Russian Highly Enriched Uranium Agreement. The Russian's have made it clear that they will not renew this agreement after 2013, as they will need the fuel for their own needs.

Meanwhile, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which oversees nuclear power in the U.S. has been conducting special investigations into nuclear reactors. The Chairman of the NRC has expressed confidence in the safety of the American Nuclear Reactors and U.S. utilities are purchasing all available supplies of ore.

Additionally the French Prime Minister recently said, "We think nuclear energy is the solution for the future."

One must always be aware that the German decision is politically driven. The move to end nuclear will increase energy prices and imperil German competitiveness.

Gold Stock Trades is focusing a strong eye on the most promising uranium miners in the U.S. which may soar as the Russian HEU Agreement concludes in 2013. Some low cost in situ uranium miners appearto be forming bases while the higher cost miners are hitting new lows.

 

Back to homepage

Leave a comment

Leave a comment