Russia biggest exporter of uranium to US, Ria Novosti reveals
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Amidst growing concerns over dependency on Russia, the US Department of Energy is trying to develop domestic sources of enriched uranium which has only covered %5 of the need in 2022.
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Representatives of participating companies sign containers with uranium to be used as fuel for nuclear reactors, prior to loading them aboard Atlantic Navigator ship, on a port in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Citing data from the US statistics service, Ria Novosti revealed that the United States has imported over $1 billion worth of Russian uranium from January through November 2023.
The figures indicate a substantial increase in reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, particularly during November when exports amounted to $96 million.
This surge in trade makes Russia the largest provider of uranium to the US, a position it hadn't held since May when supplies totaled $177 million.
Other suppliers of uranium to the US, include the UK and Japan, with November exports reaching approximately $48.6 million and $44 million, respectively. Belgium had also exported $2.4 million worth of uranium to Russia during the same period. The total U.S. imports of uranium in November reached nearly $191 million.
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US fears dependency on Russia, flails for uranium self-sufficiency
Amidst growing concerns over dependency, the U.S. Department of Energy had recently announced plans to solicit bids from contractors to establish a domestic supply of uranium fuel enriched to higher levels, essential for the next generation of reactors. The plan aims to diversify sources of nuclear fuel, which are currently predominantly supplied by Russia in commercial quantities.
According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, in 2022, approximately 12% of uranium consumed by the country's nuclear power plants was sourced from Russia.
In comparison, 27% came from Canada and 25% from Kazakhstan. Merely 5% of the uranium used during that period originated domestically.
As geopolitical tensions continue to influence resource dynamics, the race to secure a stable and diversified supply of uranium intensifies, with the US aiming to reduce its reliance on Russian imports for strategic and security reasons.
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