Amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military occupation of Ukraine’s largest nuclear plant and assaults on the nation’s power infrastructure, both Europe and the United States rely on Russian nuclear fuel for their electricity generation.
One of the recipients of low enriched uranium (LEU) from Russia is Canadian-owned Westinghouse Electric, as per shipping data analyzed by CBC’s investigative team. Although the U.S. prohibited Russian enriched uranium imports in August 2024 to reduce dependence on Russian materials and ensure a robust domestic fuel supply, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act allows waivers under specific conditions until January 1, 2028.
According to a report by the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center in Vilnius, Lithuania, the U.S. imported 400 tonnes of low enriched uranium from Russia in 2025, valued at approximately $1 billion US. In this period, major recipients included subsidiaries of French-owned nuclear company Framatome, U.S.-based Global Nuclear Fuel Americas, and Westinghouse.
While the European Union has no ban on Russian enriched uranium imports, Canada has not imposed sanctions on dealing with Russia’s state atomic energy corporation Rosatom or its export arm, Tenex. Dmitry Gorchakov, a nuclear adviser at Bellona, emphasized the need for countries to reduce their reliance on Russia amid the ongoing conflict and geopolitical tensions.
Analysis of shipping data between Westinghouse and Tenex revealed ongoing uranium exports from Russia to Westinghouse’s South Carolina plant. This uranium is processed into fuel pellets and assembled into fuel rods for commercial nuclear power reactors.
Despite efforts to reduce dependency on Russian enriched uranium, the U.S. and Europe have long relied on Russia for a significant portion of their enriched uranium supply. With ongoing attempts to bolster domestic production, Western nations are gradually diversifying their nuclear fuel sources.
Westinghouse Electric, a key player in the U.S. nuclear industry, has been involved in significant investments and agreements to bolster the country’s nuclear energy infrastructure. Similarly, Canada’s nuclear industry, mainly fueled by natural uranium, has been exploring enriched uranium options for proposed new reactors, including small modular reactors.
It is crucial for Western countries to mitigate financial support to Russian state nuclear entities, given the geopolitical context and Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Both public and industry stakeholders are advocating for stricter measures to prevent inadvertent support to Russian state enterprises through nuclear fuel transactions.
In addition to seeking alternative sources of enriched uranium, companies like Cameco and Westinghouse are actively engaged in supporting Ukraine’s nuclear energy sector by supplying fuel and participating in infrastructure development initiatives. Notably, these collaborations aim to reduce Ukraine’s reliance on Russian nuclear fuel sources.