• The U.S. added uranium back to its list of 60 critical minerals.
• Global uranium demand is projected to exceed 150,000 tons by 2040.
• The move reflects U.S. efforts to secure nuclear fuel supplies.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released an updated list of critical minerals on Thursday, November 6, adding uranium back to the group of 60 materials considered vital to national interests. The metal was absent from the previous 2022 list.

The decision comes as global demand for nuclear fuel is set to rise sharply, driven by the energy transition. According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), uranium needs for nuclear reactors could exceed 150,000 tons by 2040.

At the same time, global uranium production, which totaled 60,213 tons in 2024, could fall by half after 2030, the WNA warned earlier this year. Uranium’s reclassification underscores Washington’s growing focus on supply security.

Updated at least every three years, the U.S. critical minerals list is used to assess national security risks and guide policies to strengthen supply chains. The USGS said uranium’s inclusion followed a presidential decree issued this year requiring its addition to the 2025 list.

While the reasons for Washington’s decision were not detailed, it comes as the United States—along with other nations—pledged at COP28 to triple the world’s installed nuclear capacity by 2050. How this will translate into action remains to be seen, as the U.S. still relies heavily on imported uranium to meet domestic demand.

Meanwhile, the country is pursuing new uranium supply sources, particularly in Africa. In August, Aura Energy, operator of the Tiris uranium project in Mauritania, announced an agreement with a “U.S. electric company” to supply 10% of the mine’s planned production between 2028 and 2031.