President Biden announced sanctions on Russia's energy exports, particularly its oil and gas exports, back in March 2022. Uranium, however, was not included on that list of notable exports. Uranium enrichment is a difficult process that is only possible in a few nations, including Russia.
Nuclear power plant
Where Does the USA Get its Uranium?
The USA imports uranium mainly from Kazakhstan, which accounts for 35% of the total importation rate. Canada comes in second with 15%, followed by Russia and Australia in third with 14%. Based on information from the Uranium Marketing Annual Report, it also imports uranium from Namibia.
Uranium ore, a naturally occurring radioactive substance, is the starting point for uranium fuel. For fuel, this ore is merely marginally useful. After being mined, the ore is converted into yellowcake, which is merely concentrated uranium. This yellowcake is converted into U-235 gas, an isotope-enriched gas. Because it is fissile, this isotope can be used as nuclear fuel. The enriched uranium fuel rods can then be used in a nuclear reactor.
The ability of nuclear reactors to produce electricity is the main factor driving the demand for uranium. According to industry experts, the demand for uranium will increase significantly over the next ten years due to the number of new reactors that are anticipated as well as the rising global demand for electricity.
Rosatom, a government-run organization established by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007, is in charge of overseeing Russia's uranium production. Exempting U.S. uranium imports is likely to fuel ongoing concerns about how American companies are supporting Russia's economy. The company is a significant source of income for Moscow.
Reuters reported that, according to Nima Ashkeboussi, senior director of fuel and radiation safety at NEI, for their fuel needs, U.S. utilities enter into contracts with a global network of organizations and nations to reduce the likelihood of disruption.
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Can US Produce Enough Uranium?
According to a source interviewed by Bloomberg, the Biden administration is urging lawmakers to support a $4.3 billion plan to buy enriched uranium directly from domestic producers in order to wean the US off imports from Russia of the nuclear-reactor fuel.
Energy officials argued that any interruption in the flow of Russian enriched uranium could result in operational problems at commercial nuclear reactors. Participants in the US nuclear energy industry have also been briefed on the proposal.
It won't be simple for the US to revive its domestic uranium industry, though. The only remaining commercial enrichment facility in the nation is a facility in New Mexico owned by the British-German-Dutch consortium Urenco Ltd.
The Department of Energy proposed in 2021 a Uranium Reserve Program. Under this program, the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) would purchase uranium directly from domestic mines under the Uranium Reserve program. The new stockpile is anticipated to maintain at least two U.S. uranium mines in operation, restore active conversion capabilities, and guarantee nuclear power operators a backup supply of uranium in the event of market disruption.
Within the following year, NE will begin a competitive procurement process to establish the Uranium Reserve program. After addressing the very short-term pressure on the uranium mining and conversion subsectors, additional support, including enrichment needs, will be considered over a ten-year period as market conditions change.
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Check out more news and information on Uranium on Science Times.
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