WASHINGTON: The US Senate has unanimously voted to ban uranium imports from Russia, intensifying pressure on Moscow’s economy in the wake of President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago.
Following its passage in the US House of Representatives in December, the bill is now awaiting President Joe Biden’s approval to become law.
The ban on uranium imports will be implemented 90 days after enactment and is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2040, with provisions for waivers in cases related to energy and national security.
Senator Jim Risch, co-sponsor of the bill, emphasized the necessity of ending America’s reliance on Russian-enriched uranium for national security reasons. Meanwhile, Senator John Barrasso, another co-sponsor, highlighted the legislation’s role in undermining Russia’s military funding.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, American nuclear plants imported around 12% of their uranium from Russia in 2022, coinciding with Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
This move follows previous measures by Washington, including banning Russian oil imports and capping the price of Russian energy exports, in response to the Ukraine conflict.
