Russia resumes supplies of low-enriched uranium to the U.S.

Russian company Tenex, part of state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom, resumed the export of low-enriched uranium to the United States earlier this month, pro-Kremlin outlet EA Daily reported on Feb. 24.

According to the ImportGenius procurement tracking service, the Atlantic Navigator II delivered two cargoes of 15 and 85 tons of uranium to Baltimore on Feb. 12 for U.S. companies Westinghouse and Global Nuclear Fuel Americas, respectively.

To deliver the shipments, Tenex had to obtain three special licenses from the Russian authorities. U.S. company Centrus Energy confirmed the report, noting that it uses most of the raw material received in order to fulfill orders from one of its customers.

In 2023, Russia exported an estimated $1.2 billion worth of uranium products to the U.S. Although Russia is not a major uranium producer, it accounts for one-third of the global conversion and enrichment market. Rosatom covers up to 20% of the needs of U.S. nuclear power plants.

Centrus Energy has warned that cutting off Russian supplies would negatively impact its ability to meet its obligations to supply fuel for U.S. nuclear power plants. The company noted that Tenex plans to request additional export licenses but warned that the Russian side could refuse to issue them or that it could revoke them prior to shipment.

In August 2024, Washington imposed major restrictions on uranium imports from Russia and aims to completely cut ties with Russian suppliers by 2028. The Russian government responded in kind in mid-November, introducing one-time licenses for each delivery to the U.S. until Dec. 31, 2025.