Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russian forces have seized control of the country’s largest nuclear plant and targeted its power infrastructure, European and U.S. reliance on Russian nuclear fuel for their electricity generation remains a critical issue.
One of the companies receiving low enriched uranium (LEU) from Russia for commercial nuclear reactors in the U.S. is Canadian-owned Westinghouse Electric, as revealed in shipping data analyzed by CBC’s investigative program, the fifth estate.
While the U.S. took steps to ban the import of Russian enriched uranium in August 2024 to reduce dependency on Russian material and ensure a robust domestic fuel supply, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act allows for waivers under specific circumstances until January 1, 2028.
In 2025, the U.S. imported approximately 400 tonnes of low enriched uranium from Russia valued at around $1 billion US, with major recipients including subsidiaries of French-owned nuclear company Framatome, U.S. nuclear fuel supplier Global Nuclear Fuel Americas, and Westinghouse.
Notably, the European Union does not have a ban on importing Russian enriched uranium, and Canada has not imposed sanctions on conducting business with Rosatom or Tenex, Russia’s state atomic energy corporation.
Efforts are being made to reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel, with Western governments and industry working to enhance domestic production and diversify supply sources. Westinghouse, a key player in the U.S. nuclear sector, has been actively involved in agreements with Ukraine’s Energoatom to supply fuel and construct new reactors, aiming to replace Russia as Ukraine’s nuclear fuel provider.
While challenges persist in transitioning away from Russian enriched uranium due to the global infrastructure’s historical reliance on Russian supply, steps are being taken to bolster domestic production and cooperation with allied countries to decrease dependency on Russian nuclear material.
