Washington has developed a $ 4.3 billion plan.
Washington plans to cut purchases of Russian uranium, in particular, due to investments aimed at the development of uranium enrichment enterprises in the United States. The administration of US President Joe Biden urges lawmakers to support a $ 4.3 billion plan to buy enriched uranium directly from domestic producers to reduce US dependence on Russian imports of nuclear reactor fuel, according to Bloomberg. The United States met with key members of Congress and said such funding was urgently needed. The Department of Energy also claims that any disruption in the supply of enriched Russian uranium could lead to disruptions in commercial nuclear reactors.
The plan needs to be approved by Congress and aims to stimulate domestic uranium production and other steps needed to convert uranium to reactor fuel. According to the plan, the state will directly buy enriched uranium from local producers, including the type used in the latest reactors.
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However, it will not be easy for the United States to expand its domestic uranium industry: there is only one commercial plant left in New Mexico, owned by the British-German-Dutch consortium Urenco Ltd.
It is noted that the discussion of the plan took place at a time when the Biden administration is considering sanctions on the import of enriched uranium from Russia in response to the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine, while considering the possibility that Russia may also decide to stop imports. Russia accounted for 16.5% of uranium imported to the United States in 2020 and 23% of enriched uranium needed to power US commercial nuclear reactors.
