[en] This is an article by the Secretary General of the Uranium Institute, who is also Head of the Reactor Development Divisiion, UKAE, Winfrith. Estimates are given of the demand for uranium up to 1990 and factors likely to affect it are considered. Estimates of production up to 1985 show that it should be able to keep pace with demand until late in the eighties. The world potential for production after 1985 is examined from the viewpoint of resource availability exploration, price and government policies. (author)