On May 13, 2024, President Biden signed the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act (H.R. 1042) into law, signaling a major shift in the U.S. energy landscape. Effective August 12, 2024, this legislation bans the import of uranium products from Russia, aiming to end U.S.
dependence on Russian uranium for civil nuclear power reactors. A waiver process, managed by the Department of Energy with input from the Departments of State and Commerce, remains available until January 1, 2028.
This bipartisan decision underscores the U.S. resolve to cut ties with Russian uranium, which supports Russia’s military-industrial complex, including its ongoing war in Ukraine. The State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), responsible for Russia’s uranium exports, has connections to the country’s nuclear weapons program, posing significant national security risks.
Since February 2022, over 35 Rosatom subsidiaries and associated individuals have faced sanctions under Executive Order 14024. This new law addresses Russia’s strategy of weaponizing economic dependencies, highlighting the dangers of continued reliance on Russian uranium for U.S. energy and economic security.
The legislation unlocks $2.72 billion for the Department of Energy to invest in domestic uranium enrichmentg, aligning with global commitments. These include the G7’s pledge to reduce dependency on Russian civil nuclear goods and the COP 28 Sapporo 5 agreement to expand enrichment and conversion capacity with a $4.2 billion investment.
The law also supports the Multinational Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy Capacity by 2050. This bipartisan effort, coupled with FY24 budget funding, aims to create a secure, resilient nuclear fuel supply chain free from adversarial influence, ensuring long-term energy security for the U.S. and its allies.
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