Washington explores reprocessing spent nuclear fuel to reduce reliance on Russian uranium amid energy security concerns.
The US is evaluating spent nuclear fuel reprocessing as a strategic move to weaken Russia’s dominance in the uranium market. Russia currently supplies about 20% of US uranium, a critical input for nuclear power plants, which are seeing renewed demand due to decarbonization and AI-driven energy needs.
Global uranium demand has surged, with prices rising over 50% in the past year. The US has historically relied on imports, but geopolitical tensions and supply chain risks have prompted calls for domestic alternatives. Reprocessing could provide a long-term solution, though regulatory and technical hurdles remain.
Markets have yet to react significantly, as the initiative is in early stages. Analysts note that any shift away from Russian supply could tighten global uranium markets further, potentially lifting prices for alternative suppliers like Canada and Kazakhstan.