nuclear-news

Congress Restricts Russian Uranium Imports, Unlocks $2.7 Billion for Domestic Fuel

Rifka Handelman, MAY 08, 2024,  https://ww2.aip.org/fyi/congress-restricts-russian-uranium-imports-unlocks-2-7-billion-for-domestic-fuel

The bill allows the energy secretary to issue waivers but aims to wean the U.S. off Russian nuclear fuel.

Legislation that restricts imports  of unirradiated low-enriched uranium (LEU) from Russia is now headed to the president’s desk after the Senate passed it by unanimous consent last week.

The restriction will take effect 90 days after the president signs the legislation, which is expected to occur.

The act allows the secretary of energy to issue waivers for imports up to certain limits if there is no other viable source of LEU available. As of 2022, U.S. civilian nuclear power plants collectively sourced about 12%  of their uranium from Russia.

Once the restriction is in place, the Department of Energy is permitted to spend up to $2.72 billion to support domestic production of LEU and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which is a more concentrated fuel intended for use in prospective advanced reactors.

Congress allocated  these funds through the final appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2024 but made them contingent on the U.S. restricting imports of Russian uranium.

The funds will specifically go toward implementing the Nuclear Fuel Security Act,  which aims to expand U.S. capacity to make HALEU fuel and ensure there is a reserve of uranium that can sustain U.S. reactors in the event of supply chain disruption.

May 10, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uranium, USA