Bipartisan Efforts to Prohibit Russian Uranium Imports Advance in US Congress

Strategic Insights -

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban the importation of Russian uranium, a move aimed at reducing dependence on Russian nuclear fuel and countering Vladimir Putin's use of the industry to fund his "brutal invasion of Ukraine". The legislation, sponsored by Senators John Barrasso and Joe Manchin, seeks to end the US's reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, estimated to be around $1 billion per year. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to be voted on alongside the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US House of Representatives has passed H.R.1042, a bill to prohibit the importation of Russian uranium, with overwhelming bipartisan support.
  • The legislation, sponsored by Senators John Barrasso and Joe Manchin, aims to end the US's reliance on Russian nuclear fuel and reduce dependence on Russian nuclear industry.
  • The bill is part of a broader effort to develop and maintain a reliable domestic supply of nuclear fuel, with the Nuclear Fuel Security Act included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
  • The Senate has adopted the Barrasso-Manchin amendment by a significant margin (96-3) on July 27, 2023, indicating strong bipartisan support for the measure.
  • Companion legislation, S. 763, was introduced by Senator John Barrasso on March 9, 2023, alongside Senators Joe Manchin, Jim Risch, Martin Heinrich, Cynthia Lummis, Chris Coons, and Roger Marshall.
  • The Nuclear Fuel Security Act is nearly identical to the Fission for the Future Act, which passed the Senate by voice vote in December 2022.

Statistics:

  • The US spends around $1 billion per year on nuclear fuel from Russia.
  • The bill aims to end the US's reliance on Russian nuclear fuel by developing a domestic supply of nuclear fuel.
  • The Nuclear Fuel Security Act seeks to ensure a reliable domestic supply of nuclear fuel for America's existing and advanced reactors.
  • The bill includes provisions to direct DOE to partner with industry to establish a domestic HALEU enrichment capability, and to make HALEU available from their inventories to ensure advanced reactors have the fuel they need.

Sources:

  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee press release, December 11 [Unknown date]
  • U.S. House of Representatives, H.R.1042 ( companion legislation to S. 763)
  • S. 763, companion legislation to H.R.1042, introduced by U.S. Senators John Barrasso, Joe Manchin, Jim Risch, Martin Heinrich, Cynthia Lummis, Chris Coons, and Roger Marshall on March 9, 2023
  • Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, S. 452, the Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023, adopted on May 17, 2023
  • Senate Resolution, S. Res. [Unknown number], passed on December 2022