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Nuclear and SMR non-fuel critical minerals supply chains: an emerging fourth value chain

Bala, Kruthika A.
; 
Colorado School of Mines. Payne Institute for Public Policy
; 
Johnston, Robert J.
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2026-03-11
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Publications - Payne Institute
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Payne-Institute-Commentary-Nuclear-and-SMR-Non-Fuel-Critical-Minerals-Supply-Chain.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/11124/181987
 https://doi.org/10.25676/11124/181987
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As Canada expands its nuclear ambitions through small modular reactors (SMRs) and legacy technologies such as CANDU and AP-1000 reactor designs, a new strategic value chain for critical minerals demand is emerging. This value chain is built not only on uranium but also on an additional narrow set of non‑fuel materials and qualification regimes that are thin, slow to change and hard to duplicate. In this context, the nuclear sector is emerging as a fourth value chain for critical minerals, alongside clean energy, defence, and artificial intelligence/semiconductors.
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