In this episode of the Energy Newsbeat Podcast, host Stu Turley sits down with Thomas Land, CEO of Myriad Uranium and J2 Metals, to explore the geopolitical battle reshaping global energy. While China aggressively builds dozens of nuclear reactors to power its AI dominance, the United States remains frozen in time with just 94 reactors—a legacy of fear dating back to Three Mile Island.
But the real story goes deeper: it’s about uranium enrichment, Russian fuel subscriptions, Arctic shipping routes, and how $10 trillion spent on wind and solar could have transformed the world with nuclear power instead. Land breaks down the uranium fuel cycle, reveals why silver is the hottest commodity on Earth, and challenges conventional wisdom about energy policy,
Canadian leverage and the hidden beneficiaries of decisions like the Keystone XL pipeline cancellation. This is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand the true drivers of energy security, geopolitical power, and why the nuclear renaissance is just beginning.
Connect with Thomas on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdlamb/
Check out Myriad Uranium https://myriaduranium.com/
1. Uranium Industry & Nuclear Energy
The podcast opens with an extensive discussion of uranium and the nuclear fuel cycle. Key points include:
- The uranium fuel cycle process (mining, conversion to uranium hexafluoride, enrichment via centrifuges, and fuel pellet creation)
- The distinction between uranium-235 (fissile, 0.7% of mined uranium) and uranium-238 (non-fissile, 99.3%)
- How uranium enrichment levels differ for civilian reactors (3-5%) vs. military/naval applications (higher concentrations)
- The U.S. has 94 active nuclear reactors while China is building dozens of new ones
- Historical context: Three Mile Island (1979) halted U.S. nuclear expansion for decades
2. Energy Geopolitics & Global Competition
- U.S. vs. China: China is winning the AI race partly because it has cheap electricity from nuclear power, while the U.S. lags
- Russia’s Nuclear Dominance: Russia exports nuclear reactors and maintains control through fuel bundle subscriptions and maintenance programs
- Germany’s Energy Crisis: Germany shut down nuclear plants and coal plants, now relying on Russian gas—allegedly influenced by Russian geopolitical interests
- Energy Security: Control of Arctic shipping routes and LNG flows is critical to global power dynamics
3. Renewable Energy vs. Nuclear Debate
- $10 trillion spent on wind and solar globally could have built 173+ additional nuclear reactors in the U.S. instead
- Discussion of the inefficiency and hidden costs of renewable energy production (coal pollution in China used to manufacture solar panels)
- The argument that nuclear is the most practical clean energy solution
4. Silver Mining & Industrial Metals
Thomas Land’s second company, J2 Metals, operates a silver, gold, and antimony project in Mexico:
- Antimony is the hottest commodity globally, used in defense, advanced weapons, and fire retardants
- Silver has tripled in price due to skyrocketing industrial demand (batteries, solar, servers, electrical equipment)
- Discussion of the gap between paper silver trading and physical silver delivery
5. Canada-U.S. Relations & Energy Trade
- Canada’s oil sands are critical to U.S. energy security, yet Canada underutilizes this leverage
- The Keystone XL pipeline debate—Biden cancelled it on day one; speculation that railway companies (particularly Warren Buffett’s interests) benefited
- Discussion of Canadian regulatory burden on oil drilling (which produces the cleanest oil in the world)
- Alberta’s role in funding Canada vs. the reality that oil prices fluctuate
6. Canadian vs. American Values & Governance
- Canada prioritizes “peace, order, and good government” vs. the U.S. “pursuit of happiness”
- Canadians have the wealthiest middle class globally and longer life expectancy, though fewer opportunities for extreme wealth
- Discussion of different economic models and regulatory approaches between the two countries
7. Geopolitical Strategy & Defense
- Arctic control and LNG pipeline politics (Siberia 2 pipeline negotiations)
- The suggestion that Canada should invite U.S. military bases (like Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany) to strengthen ties with the Trump administration
- The importance of not antagonizing the U.S. given Canada’s military limitations
The podcast essentially weaves together energy security, geopolitics, mining investments, and international relations, with uranium and silver as the central commodities driving global competition.
Check out the Energy News Beat SubStack https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/
A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.
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