Comment by cyberax
Uranium can be stockpiled for years in advance, relatively easily. Enough to tide over a small war while you're setting up domestic production. And China should have enough low-grade ores for that.
Uranium can be stockpiled for years in advance, relatively easily. Enough to tide over a small war while you're setting up domestic production. And China should have enough low-grade ores for that.
Uranium is far, far energy denser than any fossil fuel, and thus much easier to stockpile.
> Uranium is far, far energy denser than any fossil fuel, and thus much easier to stockpile
Sure. That doesn't remove stockpiles' inherent disadvantages: finiteness and vulnerability. Relying on uranium stockpiles would immediately put China at a known limit in a war of attrition that wouldn't constrain their adversaries.
> they can bring it in by rail from Russia
Uranium is better for Chinese energy security than oil. But this still leaves China at Moscow's mercy. That's not too differet, energywise, than the situation is now.
> Uranium can be stockpiled for years in advance, relatively easily
So can oil. Energy security is an important priority for a global power.
Stockpiles are good. Own supply chains are better.