The Megatons to Megawatts program from 1995 to 2013 converted uranium from 20,000 Soviet nuclear warheads into low-enriched uranium (LEU), providing up to 10% of U.S. electricity. This program utilized four facilities in Russia and concluded with the shutdown of the only U.S. enrichment plant in Paducah, leading to a reliance on Russian uranium. As of 2025, Russia’s state-owned Rosatom supplied 26% of the enrichment services for U.S. nuclear utilities, highlighting the U.S.’s ongoing dependency despite importing bans.
Current circumstances complicate efforts to replace this reliance. The U.S. enrichment industry has faced chronic underinvestment, with only a single commercial-scale facility, owned by Urenco, operational domestically. Experts predict that domestic production won’t meet needs before 2030, and potential new suppliers like Urenco and Orano may also face constraints, with geopolitical tensions further complicating matters.
Despite a ban on Russian uranium imports, waivers allow significant quantities until 2028, pushing the U.S. to consider foreign suppliers while navigating a delicate balance of global uranium control. Ultimately, the situation illustrates the complexities of U.S.-Russia relations, with ongoing uranium transactions providing Russia leverage amid tension.
