Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Novel Paper on Tungsten Needs for Nuclear Fusion
Rhea-AI Summary
Guardian Metal Resources (GMTLF) announces a groundbreaking study published in Fusion Engineering and Design journal, examining tungsten requirements for nuclear fusion technology. The research, co-funded by Guardian Metal and conducted with Oxford Sigma, reveals significant future demand implications.
The study projects that if global tungsten production remains static, the fusion industry will require 100% of global production by 2056. Production would need to increase 10-16 times from current levels by century's end. A single 2,000 MWth ARIES-ST reactor would consume approximately 2.6 times the current annual U.S. tungsten consumption over its 40-year lifespan.
Key findings show that an ARIES-ST reactor consumes 4,231 tonnes of tungsten at 500MWth and 29,034 tonnes at 2,000MWth over 40 full power-years. The EU-DEM01 reactor requires 3,945 tonnes at 500MWth and 9,554 tonnes at 2,000MWth. Current global consumption is approximately 100,000 tonnes annually.
Positive
- Study validates massive future demand growth for company's tungsten resources
- Fusion industry projected to require 100% of global tungsten production by 2056
- Single reactor needs 2.6x current annual US tungsten consumption
- Company positioned as potential leading US tungsten producer
Negative
- No current revenue or production
- Projected demand surge depends on successful fusion technology deployment
- Significant investment required across tungsten supply chain
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, GMTLF gained 1.18%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Novel Paper Published on Tungsten Needs for Nuclear Fusion
Significant Future Tungsten Demand by Fusion Technology Confirmed
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / March 5, 2025 / Guardian Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQX:GMTLF), a strategic development and mineral exploration company focused on tungsten in Nevada, USA, is very pleased to announce the publication of a study titled 'Supply and Demand of Tungsten in a Fleet of Fusion Power Plants' in the Fusion Engineering and Design journal.
This study is the first scientific paper to directly quantify the amount of tungsten that is expected to be required in nuclear fusion technology in the context of a tungsten supply chain. The study predicts, in the scenarios analysed, if global tungsten production stays stagnant for the roll out of 500MWth and 2000MWth scale fusion reactors, the fusion industry will require
The study was co-funded partially by Guardian Metal with technical method and analysis conducted by the Company's partners Oxford Sigma Ltd ("Oxford Sigma"). Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Their mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Their fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.
Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal, commented:
"The demand outlook for tungsten has significantly changed as of today and our investment case at Guardian Metal, as a leader in U.S.-focussed tungsten exploration and development, has grown much stronger. With billions of dollars being invested globally across the fusion space during just this year alone, we hope that the results of this study will serve as a wakeup call in regards to the supply chain implications - specifically for tungsten - posed by this ground breaking technology. Simply put, current global tungsten output is vastly insufficient to meet growing future demand from fusion technology and as a result, significant investment will be required across the entire tungsten supply chain.
We at Guardian Metal are delighted that tungsten availability will be a cornerstone consideration for this ground-breaking technology, and our goal is to be a western world producer of this critical metal for fusion and defence, as well as a wide array of other important industries that require this metal."
Study Highlights:
Tungsten is a leading candidate for both plasma facing and shielding in both spherical and D-shaped tokamaks, given its core properties including high melting point, high thermal conductivity, high neutron shielding and low sputtering yield (loss of material when hit with energetic particles).
To enable the widespread adoption of nuclear fusion power plants, a reliable tungsten supply chain is essential. The tungsten industry is required to grow by an order of magnitude or more under the role out of reactors assumptions in the study.
Two specific reactor designs were studied, the results of which have concluded that:
ARIES-ST reactor over 40fpy (full power-years) at 500MWth (megawatt thermal) consumed 4,231 tonnes of tungsten and 29,034 tonnes at 2,000MWth.
EU-DEM01 reactor over 40fpy at 500MWth consumed 3,945 tonnes of tungsten and 9,554 tonnes at 2,000MWth.
If the UK or US were to develop and operate fusion power fleets without domestic tungsten sources, their supply would likely fall drastically short of requirements for reactors alone, not counting existing essential industry and military uses, without heavy investment and expansion of mined tungsten capacity.
Given that current global consumption is approximately 100,000 tonnes per annum, the study models that global tungsten supply is a founding cornerstone issue for a future fleet of fusion power plants.
The full study can be found at:
E. Day-San, G.C. Blackett, M. Dornhofer, A.K. Manduku, M.D. Anderton, L. Tanure, T.P. Davis, 'Supply and demand of tungsten in a fleet of fusion power plants', Fusion Engineering and Design,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2025.114881
Guardian Metal Resource has two leading advancing tungsten projects in the USA and has the objective to be the leading company to re-establish tungsten production in the USA. The Company also is acknowledged in the paper above as follows:
The authors would like to thank Guardian Metal Resources Plc for providing financial support for A. Manduku's internship during the summer of 2024. This internship was also supported by the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Fusion Industry Program (FIP) internship scheme and Oxford Sigma during 2024.
For further information visit www.Guardianmetalresources.com,oxfordsigma.com or contact the following:
Guardian Metal Resources plc | Tel:+44 (0) 20 7583 8304 |
Shard Capital Partners LLP | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7186 9000 |
Oxford Sigma Ltd | Tel +44 (0) 1865 509665 |
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SOURCE: Guardian Metal Resources PLC
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
FAQ
How much will tungsten demand increase for fusion reactors by 2056 according to the GMTLF study?
What is the tungsten consumption of a 2000MWth ARIES-ST fusion reactor according to GMTLF's research?
How many times does global tungsten production need to increase by 2100 based on GMTLF's study?
What is the current annual global tungsten consumption according to GMTLF's research?
How much tungsten does the EU-DEM01 reactor require at 2000MWth according to the GMTLF study?
