Uranium is an important energy source that powers an ever-growing number of nuclear plants. The demand for uranium has grown significantly in recent years due to its importance in the energy sector. As a result, the world is searching for new sources of uranium to meet this growing demand. As with all mined resources, the amount of uranium available in the world is finite and continuously depends on the discovery of new uranium mines.
Uranium resources are typically found in the form of uranium ore which is usually mined in underground mines. Here we present a list of the top ten uranium mines in the world as of 2023. These mines are based on total production capacity, measured in thousand tons of uranium (ktU).
1. McArthur River Uranium Mine (Canada): Produces a total of 882 ktU, making it the biggest uranium mine in the world as of 2023.
2. Ranger Uranium Mine (Australia): Located in the northern region of Australia, Ranger Uranium Mine produces 690 ktU.
3. Rossing Uranium Mine (Namibia): Located in Namibia, Rossing Uranium Mine produces 648 ktU.
4. Cigar Lake Uranium Mine (Canada): Located in the northern part of Canada, this uranium mine produces 594 ktU.
5. Olympic Dam Uranium Mine (Australia): Located in the southern region of Australia, Olympic Dam produces 590 ktU.
6. North Butte Uranium Mine (USA): Located in Wyoming, North Butte continues to produce 309 ktU.
7. Kintyre Uranium Mine (Australia): Producing 293 ktU, Kintyre Uranium Mine is located in the remote region of Western Australia.
8. Smith Ranch-Highland Uranium Mine (USA): Located in Wyoming, this mine has a production capacity of 221 ktU.
9. Four Mile Uranium Mine (USA): Located in Wyoming, the Four Mile Uranium Mine produces 194 ktU of uranium ore.
10. Highland Uranium Mine (USA): Located in Utah, the Highland Uranium Mine is the tenth-largest uranium mine in the world and produces 160 ktU.
It is expected that this list of the top ten uranium mines will change in the coming years as new reserves are discovered and new mines are developed. The current estimated global uranium resources, as of 2020, are sufficient to last the world’s current use of uranium for about eighty years. It is expected that this list of the top ten uranium mines will remain slightly unchanged for the next decade or so, until more discoveries are made or new mining projects are developed.