Policy & waiver ledger

UK bans import, acquisition and supply of Russian uranium

The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/543) took effect May 20, 2026, prohibiting import and acquisition of uranium originating in, located in or consigned from Russia and its supply from Russia to third countries, plus related technical, financial and brokering services; exceptions cover third-country nuclear installations operational before that date and uranium exported from Russia beforehand.

Section 232 critical minerals findings: negotiations directed, uranium covered, tariffs held in reserve

Following the EO 14272 investigation (which explicitly covered uranium), the President issued a proclamation finding the US too reliant on foreign processed critical minerals and directed Commerce and USTR to negotiate agreements (including possible price floors) within 180 days, reserving tariffs, minimum import prices or other measures if negotiations fail; no immediate tariffs were imposed.

DOE awards American Centrifuge Operating $900M HALEU enrichment task order

Party: American Centrifuge Operating (Centrus)

Under the $2.7B enrichment program's first production-scale task orders, DOE awarded American Centrifuge Operating $900M over 10 years to create domestic HALEU enrichment capacity, distributed on a strict milestone basis.

DOE awards General Matter $900M HALEU enrichment task order

Party: General Matter

DOE awarded General Matter $900M over 10 years to create domestic HALEU enrichment capacity (planned at Paducah, KY) as part of the $2.728B package of awards announced January 5, 2026.

DOE awards Orano Federal Services $900M LEU enrichment task order

Party: Orano Federal Services

DOE awarded Orano Federal Services $900M over 10 years to expand domestic LEU enrichment capacity supporting the 94 operating US commercial reactors, part of the $2.728B enrichment awards.

DOE awards Global Laser Enrichment $28M for next-generation enrichment technology

Party: Global Laser Enrichment

Alongside the three $900M task orders, DOE awarded GLE $28M to continue developing its next-generation laser uranium enrichment technology, bringing the announced total to $2.728B over ten years.

UK accelerates end of Russian uranium use in domestic reactors to 2028

In September 2025 the UK brought forward its commitment to end use of Russian uranium in all domestic reactors from 2030 to 2028, formalized in the February 4, 2026 Statement on civil nuclear fuel use, alongside up to £300M for domestic HALEU production targeting commercial operations by 2031.

DOE allocates second round of HALEU to three companies

Party: Antares Nuclear, Standard Nuclear, Abilene Christian University/Natura Resources

DOE announced second-round HALEU Availability Program allocations to Antares Nuclear (microreactor demo), Standard Nuclear (TRISO fuel) and ACU/Natura Resources (molten salt research reactor), supporting the Reactor Pilot Program target of three criticalities by July 4, 2026; DOE intends to make 21 metric tons of HALEU available by June 30, 2026.

DOE extends Centrus waiver to 2026-2027 Russian LEU deliveries

Party: Centrus Energy

DOE issued Centrus a waiver allowing import of Russian LEU for all currently committed deliveries to US customers in 2026 and 2027, extending the July 2024 waiver that covered only 2024-2025, per the company's 8-K disclosure.

EO 14302 'Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base' orders fuel-cycle expansion

One of four nuclear executive orders signed May 23, 2025, directing the Energy Secretary to produce within 120 days a plan to expand domestic uranium conversion and enrichment for LEU, HEU and HALEU, update excess uranium management policy within 90 days, establish fuel supply chain consortia, and report on spent fuel recycling within 240 days.

EU REPowerEU Roadmap targets phase-out of Russian nuclear fuel

The European Commission's roadmap to end dependency on Russian energy includes restricting new supply contracts co-signed by the Euratom Supply Agency for uranium, enriched uranium and other nuclear materials deriving from Russia, with legislative proposals to follow; Russian gas is to be eliminated by end-2027 while no distinct deadline was set for nuclear materials.

EO 14272 orders Section 232 probe of processed critical minerals, explicitly including uranium

Executive Order 14272 directed Commerce to open a Section 232 national-security investigation into processed critical minerals and derivative products, with the order stating 'the term critical minerals also includes uranium'; a final report with tariff/import-restriction recommendations was due within 180 days.

DOE conditionally allocates first HALEU to five advanced reactor developers

Party: TRISO-X, Kairos Power, Radiant Industries, Westinghouse, TerraPower

DOE made first-round conditional HALEU allocations (from DOE/NNSA material) to five of 15 applicants under the HALEU Availability Program, with three requiring fuel delivery in 2025 and deliveries possible as early as fall 2025.

DOE selects six companies for domestic LEU enrichment contracts

Party: American Centrifuge Operating, General Matter, Global Laser Enrichment, Louisiana Energy Services, LIS Technologies, Orano Federal Services

Under its domestic LEU supply chain program, DOE announced selections of six vendors (Task Order 1, $2M each to prepare proposals) to compete for future LEU enrichment work under the $2.7B LEU/HALEU infrastructure program.

DOE names four HALEU enrichment contractors

Party: American Centrifuge Operating (Centrus), General Matter, Louisiana Energy Services (Urenco), Orano Federal Services

DOE selected four companies for HALEU enrichment services contracts, allocating $2M each to prepare proposals to compete for future task orders under a program with up to $2.7B available over 10 years, nine days after the deconversion awards.

DOE awards six HALEU deconversion contracts

Party: BWXT, Centrus, Framatome, GE Vernova, Orano, Westinghouse

DOE awarded six companies 10-year HALEU deconversion services contracts ($2M minimum each, up to $800M total available) to convert enriched UF6 into forms usable by advanced reactors, as part of building a domestic HALEU supply chain.

Constellation receives DOE waiver to import Russian enriched uranium through 2025

Party: Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy received a DOE waiver to import Russian enriched uranium through 2025, as reported October 10, 2024; roughly five additional waiver requests were pending at DOE at the time. The exact grant date and volumes were not disclosed.

DOE grants Centrus waiver for Russian LEU imports (2024-2025 deliveries)

Party: Centrus Energy

DOE granted Centrus a waiver to import Russian LEU for deliveries already committed to US customers in 2024 and 2025, while deferring a decision on 2026-2027 deliveries to a later date.

DOE issues Russian LEU import waiver process guidance

DOE published instructions for importers to request waivers from the Russian LEU import ban, with the Secretary of Energy (consulting State and Commerce) able to grant waivers where no viable alternative LEU source exists to keep a US reactor operating or where imports are in the national interest.

Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act signed into law

President Biden signed H.R.1042 banning imports of Russian unirradiated LEU effective August 11, 2024, while unlocking $2.72B for domestic enrichment/conversion. DOE may grant waivers (no-alternative-source or national-interest grounds), all terminating on or before January 1, 2028.