The US House of Representatives approved a bill that will ban Russian uranium imports. They voted on the legislation on Monday, Dec. 11, as part of the government's efforts to pressure Russia to stop its invasion against Ukraine.
However, this new bill is far from becoming law since it needs to be approved by the Senate and then signed by US President Joe Biden. If all goes well, the new law could reshape America's nuclear infrastructure.
But, not in a good way. Here's what some US politicians think about the new Russian uranium import ban bill.
Why US Russian Uranium Import Ban Bill is Concerning
According to Reuters' latest report, the new bill was passed by voice vote in the House of Representatives after the chamber suspended traditional voting rules. The legislation called the "Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act" states that it would ban uranium imports from Russia 90 days after being enacted.
But, Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers shared her concerns regarding the new uranium import-banning bill.
"The risks of continuing this dependence on Russia for our nuclear fuels are simply too great," she said.
"It's weakening America's nuclear fuel infrastructure, which has declined significantly because of reliance on these cheap fuels," added the American official.
However, it was clarified that the bill contains waivers, which will enable the import of low-enriched uranium from Russia. This can happen if the US energy secretary determines that there's no alternative source available for nuclear reactor operation or an American nuclear energy firm.
The bill would also allow low-enriched Russian uranium imports if the shipments are in the national interest of the United States.
Negative Effects of Russian Uranium Import Ban Bill
A worker fixes cylinders of uranium onto a transport truck following the arrival of the shipment from Russia at the port of Dunkirk, northern France on March 20, 2023. - Greenpeace denounced on March 20, 2023 the delivery to France of "25 cylinders containing Russian enriched uranium" from Russia.
Yahoo Finance reported that the new legislation comes with great economic ramifications since it aims to pivot away from Moscow's cost-effective enrichment services.
The Congressional Budget Office warned that if the bill becomes law, it would lead to a 13% price hike in nuclear fuel in the US. Aside from this, it could also disrupt the nuclear fuel market of America.
But, the Biden Administration already shared its plan to reduce these negative effects. The White House said that it is seeking a $2 billion boost from Congress to improve the nation's domestic enrichment capabilities; for both traditional and advanced nuclear reactors.
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