Russia restricts enriched uranium exports to the US
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Russia accounted for 27 per cent of the enriched uranium supplied to US commercial nuclear reactors in 2023.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW - Russia has imposed restrictions on the export of enriched uranium to the United States, the government said on Nov 15, creating supply risks for US nuclear power plants which in 2023 imported a quarter of their enriched uranium from the country.
Russia said the temporary restrictions were a response to Washington’s ban on imports of Russian uranium, which was signed into law earlier this year, but contained waivers allowing for shipments to continue in case of supply concerns through 2027.
Russia is the world’s sixth largest uranium producer and controls about 44 per cent of global uranium enrichment capacity.
In 2023, the US and China topped the list of Russian uranium importers, followed by South Korea and France.
President Vladimir Putin told a government meeting on Sept 11 that Moscow should consider limiting exports of uranium, titanium and nickel in retaliation for Western sanctions.
The government’s decree on Nov 15 was the first follow up action to Mr Putin’s statement in September.
Russia accounted for 27 per cent of the enriched uranium supplied to US commercial nuclear reactors in 2023. Imports to the US from Russia through July this year stood at 313,050 kilograms, down 30 per cent from 2023.
It is not clear whether the US has imported any uranium from Russia after the US ban took effect in August. The Russian government’s decree says companies authorised by the export control watchdog can still export uranium to the United States.
The US is probing a surge in imports of enriched uranium from China
