Despite political tensions, Russia makes it impossible for the US to leave it in one area

Sputnik reported that from November 2023, for the first time since May, Russia will become the main exporter of uranium to the United States.

Mặc kệ căng thẳng chính trị, Nga khiến Mỹ không thể rời bỏ mình một lĩnh vực TASS)

Russia to become main uranium supplier to the US in November 2023. (Source: TASS)

According to the US Census Bureau, in November 2023, the country only purchased fuel uranium from four countries: Russia, the UK, Japan and Belgium, with a total amount of nearly 191 million USD.

Of which, Russia became the main exporter with 96 million USD. The UK accounted for 1/4 of the supply (48.6 million USD), Japan - 22% (nearly 44 million USD) and Belgium - 1.3% (2.4 million USD).

In the previous few months, Russia ranked from second to fourth in uranium supply to the US. Specifically, in October 2023, the US imported uranium worth 63 million USD from Russia, in September - 32 million USD, in August - 50.4 million USD and in July - nearly 61 million USD.

In May 2023, Russia also took the first place in the amount of uranium supplied to the US, worth 177 million USD.

In total, in the first 11 months of 2023, Russia sold $1.017 billion worth of uranium to the US, the highest since the same period in 2010 (with $1.026 billion). In 2022, the US spent $766 million to import uranium from Russia.

Earlier, there were reports that the US was considering the possibility of abandoning the import of enriched uranium from Russia. However, US experts pointed out that such a step could seriously affect the US's plans to build its own reactors.

On December 11, 2023, the US House of Representatives passed a bill banning the import of Russian uranium, although this measure is exempted in case of a shortage of supply for domestic reactors.

The bill includes exemptions that would allow imports of low-enriched uranium from Russia if the U.S. Department of Energy determines there is no alternative source to operate a U.S. nuclear reactor or nuclear power company, or if the import would serve the national interest.

However, the bill needs to be passed by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden. Once enacted, the US will ban uranium imports from Russia for 90 days, but is subject to exemptions.

The price of uranium on the world market has nearly doubled in the past year and continues to rise. The price of uranium oxide U3O8 has now exceeded $94 per pound (1 pound is approximately 0.45 kg). Uranium oxide is used as nuclear fuel.

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