US bans imports of Russian uranium for nuclear fuel

President Biden late Monday signed a bipartisan bill that bans U.S. imports of Russian uranium for use in nuclear fuel.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the move “reestablishes America’s leadership in the nuclear sector” and “delivers on multilateral goals” the U.S. set with its allies.

The legislation makes it illegal to import low-enriched uranium, which is used in nuclear fuel, 90 days after its enactment.

The majority of uranium that powers U.S. nuclear plants is imported, and about 12 percent of those imports came from Russia in 2022.

But the measure to ban those imports had widespread support in Congress.

“Banning imports of Russian uranium will jumpstart America’s nuclear fuel industry, further defund Russia’s war machine, and help revive American uranium production for decades to come. ” Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said in a statement.

“As our nation’s leading uranium producer, Wyoming is ready to do our part to power American reactors with American nuclear fuel,” he added.

In the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. also banned imports of Russian oil, gas and coal and has sought to put a cap on how much Moscow can sell oil for around the world.

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