Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been buying enriched uranium from Russia in an effort to help its former adversary do away with its surplus of nuclear weapons material. Until now the purchases were a “blend” of both weapons-grade and commercial quality uranium that has provided about half of what’s used in civilian nuclear reactors throughout the United States. But on Tuesday the U.S. and Russia were set to sign a new agreement allowing purely commercial-grade uranium to be sold to American power companies—even though Russia still possesses plenty of radioactive fuel that’s been generated from its military program.

 

The new contract has raised questions over why the U.S.—an avowed proponent of nonproliferation—would move towards buying only non-military uranium before Russia’s surplus from its strategic stockpile has been eliminated. In response to this concern, officials have insisted that Washington will encourage the sale of blended uranium on the international market to further the goal of eliminating all of Russia’s extra weapons fuel.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Russian Uranium Sale to U.S. Is Planned (by Andrew E. Kramer and Matthew L. Wald, New York Times)