The US House of Representatives has approved a ban on imports of uranium from Russia
The US House of Representatives has voted to restrict the import of enriched uranium from Russia. The decision was supported by both parties, The Hill reports.
The document proposes the introduction of a ban on the import of low-enriched uranium 90 days after the law comes into force. It must still be approved by the US Senate and President Joe Biden.
The law allows for the lifting of the ban if there are no other sources of uranium to support the operation of nuclear reactors. The US Department of Energy may, in agreement with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, issue an import permit. The ban will last until the end of 2040.
Most of the uranium used in the US to power power plants is imported. Russia accounts for about 12% of supplies, according to data from the US Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Catherine Huff said that the US dependence on Russian nuclear fuel poses a critical threat to national security. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow is not considering a ban on the export of nuclear fuel to the United States.