May 14th 2024.
In a significant move towards reducing the United States' reliance on Russia for nuclear power, President Joe Biden has signed a new bill into law. The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, as it is called, will prevent the US from importing unirradiated low-enriched uranium from Russia.
This decision was announced by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in a statement, in which he emphasized the importance of reducing and eventually eliminating the country's dependence on Russia for civilian nuclear power. The bill had previously been approved by both the House and Senate, and according to Xinhua news agency, it will go into effect 90 days after its enactment.
The main fuel used by nuclear power plants, enriched uranium is a vital resource that the US has been importing from Russia. However, with the new law in place, this will no longer be allowed. The bill also includes a provision that allows for waivers until January 1, 2028, for utilities that may struggle to find alternative sources of uranium and may need to shut down their nuclear reactors.
In addition, the newly enacted law will also free up a significant amount of federal funding, approximately 2.72 billion US dollars, which had recently been allocated by Congress. According to Sullivan, this money will be used to "jumpstart new enrichment capacity in the United States", further reducing the country's dependence on foreign sources for enriched uranium.
According to The Washington Post, US companies currently pay around 1 billion dollars each year to Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear power company, for enriched uranium. The newspaper also noted that this new law is intended to cut off one of the last significant sources of income for Russia from the US, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In conclusion, President Biden's signing of the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act represents a significant step towards reducing the US's reliance on Russia for nuclear power. With the aim of promoting national security and reducing dependence on foreign sources, this law is expected to have a lasting impact on the country's energy sector.
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