NRG (NYSE:NRG), Crosshair Expl & Mining (AMEX:CXZ), USEC Inc. (NYSE:USU) and Exelon (NYSE:EXC) Ready to Rock on Nuclear Demand?

One element involved in the nuclear and uranium industry is some companies are exposed to several sectors and/or segments of energy, so they must be considered in that light accordingly, but with nuclear sure to be begin to rebound, as it appears it already is, companies like NRG (NYSE:NRG), Crosshair Expl & Mining (AMEX:CXZ), USEC Inc. (NYSE:USU) and Exelon (NYSE:EXC) should benefit from the move.

A couple of bits of news gave the uranium and nuclear sector a boost Tuesday. One was the announcement by Uranerz Energy (URZ) that the company has increased its uranium resource base at Power River Basin by 45 percent to 19.1 million pounds. The company also said in its note to shareholders that it now holds $47 million in cash. That gave the company a 10 percent boost in its share price, and will have a short-term positive effect on the sector.

More important, and something that gives a look at the near-term outlook for the uranium and nuclear industry, is the new that Russian and Chinese state-owned nuclear companies have made bids for Australian uranium assets, underscoring the reality nuclear remains extremely important to the countries, and their plans to expand in that energy area will continue for years.

The difference now and after the nuclear problems in Japan is the companies are asking for a reduction in their bids. Rosatom bid for ASX-listed Tanzanian uranium developer Mantra Resources (ASX:MRU), where they asked for a reduction of 12 percent of the former bid.

China's CGNPC told Kalahari Minerals they want to cut 7 percent off its takeover bid.

So it appears the tragedy in Japan hasn't done much to stop nuclear demand, but rather has lowered the premium prices that had existed before the earthquake.

With uranium demand unlikely to fall any time soon, it's uncertain whether the lower acquisition bids will put downward pressure on margins and earnings of companies if that extends to uranium prices as well.

The bottom line is nuclear and uranium are not going anywhere, and China and Russia appear to be making a move to lock up long-term sources at prices 7 to 12 percent lower than before the nuclear crisis in Japan.

How that will affect the overall industry has yet to unfold, but it has definitely changed the game.