Russia has imposed restrictions on the export of enriched uranium to the United States, the government said on Friday (15), creating supply risks for North American nuclear plants that, last year, imported from Russia more than 25% of material used in the country.
Russia said the temporary restrictions were a response to Washington’s ban on Russian uranium imports, which was signed into law earlier this year but contained waivers that allowed shipments to continue in case of supply concerns until 2027.
Russia is the sixth largest uranium producer in the world and controls about 44% of global uranium enrichment capacity. In 2023, the US and China led the list of importers of Russian uranium, followed by South Korea and France.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told a government meeting on September 11 that Moscow should consider limiting exports of uranium, titanium and nickel in retaliation for Western sanctions.
The Russian government’s decree this Friday was the first follow-up action to Putin’s statement in September.
Russia was responsible for 27% of the enriched uranium supplied to US commercial nuclear reactors last year. Imports from Russia to the US until July this year totaled 313,050 kilos, a 30% drop compared to last year.
It is unclear whether the US imported any uranium from Russia after the US ban took effect in August. The Russian government decree says that companies authorized by the export control body can still export uranium to the United States.
The US is investigating a surge in imports of enriched uranium from China from the end of 2023, amid concerns that the shipments are helping Moscow circumvent a US ban on imports of fuel for power plants from Russia.
