At higher uranium prices breeder reactors may be economically justified.

The collapse of uranium prices caused all conventional mining to cease by 1992.

As uranium production declines, uranium prices would be expected to increase.

Since 2003, however, uranium prices have been high enough to make recovery economically feasible.

If today's decision becomes final, as appears likely, then uranium prices on the spot market may nearly double from their current levels at $7.80 a pound.

If uranium prices are going to swing in favour of fast reactors, they have a long way to go.

He said that uranium prices, like those of oil and natural gas, are highly volatile:

Due to depressed uranium prices, they placed the project in care and maintenance in 1998.

That is certain to lower uranium prices, possibly to half of what the Russians were expecting, market analysts said.

Domestic production increased until 1980, after which it declined sharply due to low uranium prices.