HC Deb 25 January 1990 vol 165 cc814-5W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of(a) world uranium consumption and (b) United Kingdom uranium consumption in each year since 1960; what has been the percentage annual growth in each case; and what levels are predicted to be reached by 2000.

Mr. Baldry

For world uranium consumption I refer the hon. Member to the 1986 OECD/IAEA publication "Uranium Resources, Production and Demand". On United Kingdom consumption I am advised by the British Civil Uranium Procurement Organisation (BCUPO), which procures all civil uranium for electricity generation in the United Kingdom, that uranium consumption by the CEGB and the SSEB in the years in question was as follows:

tu
Pre-1970 110,000
1970 900
1971 1,000
1972 1,200
1973 1,300
1974 1,400
1975 1,300
1976 1,400
1977 1,300
1978 1,100
1979 1,900
1980 1,900
1981 1,300
1982 1,300
1983 1,300
1984 1,500
1985 1,500
1986 1,800
1987 1,500
1988 2,000
1989 1,900
1 The BCUPO is unable to provide annual figures for the period prior to 1970.

Based on the requirements currently advised to the BCUPO by the CEGB and the SSEB, consumption in 2000 is expected to be around 1,200 tonnes.