Saskatchewan should be enriching the uranium that is mined and milled in the province before exporting it, Premier Brad Wall said Monday.

Enriching uranium is a process that makes it ready for use in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.

He said the province, the world's leading uranium producer, would benefit from adding value to the natural resource.

Wall said he has already talked to the federal government about getting Canada included on the G8's list of countries that are allowed to enrich uranium.

Saskatchewan economist Joel Bruneau said getting the G8's permission should not be difficult as long as the end product is only used for peaceful purposes.

A much bigger obstacle would be political and public opposition, he said.

Canada's reputation as a green, non-nuclear country would be ruined if Saskatchewan started enriching uranium, he said.

Environmentalist Ann Coxworth said there are other factors to consider.

"It would be adding value but probably at considerable expense," Coxworth said. "The enrichment process takes a great deal of electrical energy."

There would also be environmental risks such as radioactive gases being released into the air, she said.