Breaking Defense, November 19, 2019
It powers America’s nuclear Navy, is the foundation of our nuclear deterrent and fuels our nuclear power plants.
AMERICA IS ON THE BRINK OF LOSING ITS
ABILITY TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR FUEL
The U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of uranium.
Foreign State-owned Companies Dominate the Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain
Uranium goes through several processes to become nuclear fuel. However, the American nuclear fuel supply chain is on the verge of collapse. At the same time, foreign state-owned companies are expanding their capabilities to dominate the global nuclear industry and marginalize the U.S.
The U.S. Must Act Now to Save the Nuclear Industrial Base
President Trump recognizes the precarious position of the U.S. national security supply chain for nuclear fuel. In July 2019, he established the U.S. Nuclear Fuel Working Group to recommend solutions for this crisis.
The U.S. supply chain needs immediate relief. The U.S. government is already working to reestablish uranium enrichment capacity. The Trump administration must act now to save uranium mining, milling and conversion before these capabilities disappear.
More than 99 percent of the uranium U.S. nuclear power plants need will come from foreign sources in 2019.
In 2019, U.S. miners will supply less than 1% of U.S. needs. Without immediate action, U.S. production will be near zero in 2020 and facilities will begin to shut down permanently.
The only U.S. conversion facility suspended operations in 2017, and without immediate action, it is at risk of soon shutting down permanently.
ALL DATA REPRESENTS 2020 ESTIMATES
The U.S. has not had an enrichment facility for defense since 2013. Foreign entities own the one U.S. enrichment facility, but it is unable to supply U.S. defense needs.
Resources
These documents provide more information about the growing threat of uranium imports to U.S. national and energy security, and why America must act to protect the domestic uranium mining industry.
News
Press Releases and Statements
“America should not rely on Vladimir Putin and his satellites to supply our uranium. It’s dangerous and unacceptable.”
- Sen. John Barrasso, July 13, 2019
Contact
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