Some states that fully support the sanctions against the Kremlin are still heavily dependent on Russian natural gas. Russian uranium is also essential for many nuclear power plants in the West. The US Congress is currently working on a ban on the import of Russian uranium.
The House of Representatives has adopted a corresponding bill. “The risks of continued dependence on Russia for our nuclear fuels are simply too great,” Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said before the vote.
However, the initiative provides for exemptions for low-enriched uranium from Russia if there is no alternative source for operating a U.S. nuclear power plant. The U.S. imported about 12 percent of its uranium from Russia in 2022, compared with 27 percent from Canada and 25 percent from Kazakhstan, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. The bill still needs to be passed by the Senate.
Nuclear energy in the EU is currently unthinkable without Russia
Against the backdrop of the nuclear energy renaissance in the EU due to the phasing out of fossil fuels, Member States are now increasingly confronted with the question of what alternatives there could be to Russian uranium supplies. Representatives of the Pro-Nuclear Alliance have been discussing this for months. The French side says the goal is to build an independent, European value chain. The French company Orano wants to produce more enriched uranium in Tricastin in the future in order to have to import less from Russia. There are currently no plans to extend sanctions on uranium imports.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
