nuclear-news

USA still importing uranium from Russia -(the nuclear industry rules!) but planning to look for alternatives – in the future

Top DOE nuclear official Kathryn Huff aims for alternatives to Russian nuclear fuel, by Jeremy Beaman, Energy and Environment Reporter & Breanne Deppisch, Energy and Environment Reporter

DOE’S HUFF ON NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLY: The U.S. is acting with the same initiative on nuclear fuel as the Europeans are with respect to natural gas: develop alternatives to Russian supplies, and do it fast.

The Biden administration is planning a future for the U.S. nuclear fleet sans Russian uranium, now that the West is cutting ties with Russia because of the war in Ukraine.

The power sector could voluntarily stop doing business with Russian uranium providers, as has happened in other industries, or Congress could ban imports as it did with Russian fossil fuels. Legislation currently before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee would ban Russian uranium imports.

Either way, reliance on uranium sourced from Russia poses special energy security and national security risks, said Assistant Secretary of Energy Kathryn Huff, who heads up the Office of Nuclear Energy at the department. Those should be addressed by revamping domestic enrichment services, she told Jeremy.

August 23, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized