U.S. Congress bans purchase of Russian nuclear fuel
Photo: U.S. Congress passes bill prohibiting the purchase of nuclear fuel from Russia (Getty Images)
The U.S. Congress has approved a bill banning the purchase of nuclear fuel from Russia. The initiative now awaits President Joe Biden's approval, writes Bloomberg.
"The bill, approved earlier this week by the Senate, cleared the House with a vote of 310-118 Thursday and now needs President Joe Biden’s signature," says the article.
It is noted that this is part of a broader plan to restore the internal uranium supply chain to the United States and gradually reduce dependence on Russia.
This will require the Department of Energy to purchase at least 20 metric tons per year of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) from American companies by the end of 2027.
Photo: Nuclear fuel suppliers for the United States (bloomberg.com)
According to information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Russia is the primary supplier of enriched uranium to the United States, with additional supplies coming from Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and other countries.
Sanctions on Russia's nuclear sector
In early 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the European Union to impose sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry.
It is worth noting that Rosatom is a key supplier of nuclear fuel to European countries, essential for the operation of nuclear power plants.
Recently, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Ukraine has proposed a solution to the EU on how to reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel and implement sanctions against the aggressor country. However, tangible results are yet to be seen.
