Washington plans to reduce the purchase of Russian uranium, in particular, through investments aimed at developing uranium enrichment enterprises in the United States. The Joe Biden administration is pushing lawmakers to support a $4.3 billion plan that includes buying enriched uranium directly from domestic producers to reduce US dependence on Russian nuclear fuel imports, Bloomberg reports..

U.S. Department of Energy officials met with key congressional officials, saying such funding is urgently needed. Also, representatives of the Department of Energy argue that any interruptions in the supply of enriched Russian uranium could cause disruptions in the operation of commercial nuclear reactors..

The plan requires congressional approval and should stimulate the development of domestic uranium production and other steps necessary to turn uranium into reactor fuel.. According to the plan, the state will directly buy enriched uranium from local producers, including the type used in the latest reactors..

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Nevertheless, it will not be easy for the US to expand the domestic uranium industry: the country has only one commercial plant in New Mexico, owned by the British-German-Dutch consortium Urenco Ltd..

It is noted that the discussion of the plan took place precisely when the Biden administration is considering imposing sanctions on the import of enriched uranium from Russia in response to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, while considering the prospect that the Russian Federation may also decide to stop imports.. Russia accounted for 16.5% of uranium imported into the US in 2020 and 23% of the enriched uranium needed to power US commercial nuclear reactors.