New York-New trading on a uranium futures contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange in May has led to some speculation that the increased interest in the commodity might tempt phosphate producers to again consider uranium extraction from phosphate. Those industry executives surveyed did not appear too enthusiastic, citing failed attempts by the industry some twenty years ago in which it made little or no money off the similar initiatives. CF Holdings Inc. told Green Markets it is studying the possibility of installing uranium recovery capability at Plant City, though it noted that it is studying a number of opportunities throughout its operations on an ongoing basis. Earlier extraction facilities in Central Florida were removed in the 1990s when the market softened, and any new initiative would take a fair-sized investment with new technology, said CF. Agrium Inc. said its Manitoba rock would not be suitable for such, but that it might be a possibility for its Idaho operations. Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. is not seriously considering uranium extraction at this time, according to a company spokesman. Mosaic Co. also acknowledged the high cost of getting back into that business.
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