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Paladin boss still sees a nuclear future

URANIUM business leader John Borshoff says the outlook for nuclear power remains strong even after the Fukushima disaster, which shaved a mere 3 per cent off demand for the commodity.
By · 1 Sep 2011
By ·
1 Sep 2011
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URANIUM business leader John Borshoff says the outlook for nuclear power remains strong even after the Fukushima disaster, which shaved a mere 3 per cent off demand for the commodity.

Mr Borshoff, the managing director of the uranium miner Paladin Energy, says that the events in Japan in March provided only a hiccup for the growth of nuclear power worldwide.

"Uranium is still suffering from the impact of the terrible Japanese earthquake ... and the damage this caused to the Fukushima nuclear reactor," he said.

"The supply sector and the nuclear industry in general have suffered a bruising effect. [But] nearly six months later it has become apparent that the outlook for nuclear is strong and will remain so in the future."

Mr Borshoff said only a few countries had gone cold on nuclear power. Switzerland and Germany have decided to phase out nuclear power and Thailand is considering alternatives to its first proposed nuclear power plant.

He said Saudi Arabia's nuclear plans since Fukushima were going unnoticed.

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Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

According to John Borshoff, managing director of Paladin Energy, the Fukushima disaster shaved only about 3% off uranium demand, a relatively small drop compared with the size of the market.

Paladin's boss John Borshoff says the outlook for nuclear power remains strong. He described the Fukushima events as a hiccup but believes nuclear demand will continue to be robust going forward.

Borshoff said the supply sector and the nuclear industry suffered a 'bruising effect' after Fukushima. He noted uranium was still suffering from the impact and from the damage to the Fukushima reactor.

The article notes that Switzerland and Germany decided to phase out nuclear power, and Thailand has been considering alternatives to its proposed first nuclear power plant.

Yes. The article mentions that some countries have not abandoned nuclear plans—specifically, John Borshoff said Saudi Arabia’s nuclear plans since Fukushima were going unnoticed, implying they remain in progress.

The article indicates that Fukushima caused short-term bruising and some volatility in the uranium supply sector, but industry leaders like Paladin’s MD view the impact as a temporary setback with a strong long-term outlook for nuclear demand.

Based on John Borshoff’s comments in the article, the drop looked like a short-term setback rather than a long-term trend—he said only a few countries went cold on nuclear and that overall outlook remains strong.

Comments from industry leaders in the article highlight that while Fukushima had a measurable impact (about a 3% demand reduction) and caused sector pain, they view the event as a temporary disruption and remain optimistic about nuclear power’s future—information everyday investors can weigh alongside other research.