U.S. policymakers are weighing a potential ban on enriched uranium imports from Russia. The consideration was highlighted by Bloomberg, as the issue moves through discussions at the highest levels of government.
The matter is under review by the National Security Council, the Department of Energy, and other agencies within the Biden administration. In December, the House of Representatives advanced a plan to prohibit Russian-produced uranium or uranium sourced from Russian operations by 2040.
While no final decision has been announced, sources indicate the administration may prefer enacting the measure through legislation passed by Congress. The Department of Energy notes that Russia has historically been the United States’ largest supplier of uranium, supplying roughly a quarter of the fuel used in American nuclear reactors. In return, Moscow earns about $1 billion annually from its uranium exports.
Reuters reported last December that Russia ranked third in uranium supplies in 2022, accounting for 12 percent of total imports, with Canada contributing 27 percent and Kazakhstan 25 percent. The United States itself supplied about 5 percent of the uranium used by its nuclear fleet at that time.
Earlier statements from officials indicated Russia’s role in global uranium markets would grow in 2023, signaling the possibility of Russia becoming the world’s leading exporter over the coming years.