By Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden Sanctioned a ban on Russian enriched uranium on Monday, the White House said, in Washington’s latest effort to disrupt President Vladimir Putininvasion of Ukraine.
The ban on importing fuel for nuclear plants begins in about 90 days, although it allows the Department of Energy to issue exemptions in case of supply problems.
Russia is the world’s leading supplier of enriched uranium and around 24% of the enriched uranium used by US nuclear plants comes from the country.
The law also unlocks about $2.7 billion in funding from previous legislation to develop the U.S. uranium fuel industry.
“Today, President Biden signed into law a historic series of actions that will strengthen our nation’s energy and economic security by reducing and ultimately eliminating our dependence on Russia for civilian nuclear energy.” Jake Sullivanthe national security adviser said in a statement.
Sullivan said the law “delivers on the multilateral goals we have set with our allies and partners,” including a commitment last December by Canada, France, Japan and the United Kingdom to collectively invest $4.2 billion to expand uranium enrichment and conversion capacity.
The waivers, if implemented by the Department of Energy, would allow all Russian imports of uranium that the U.S. normally imports through 2027.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Leslie Adler)
