Russian Uranium Importers' Waiver Applications Process Described in FR
Importers who have been bringing in Russian uranium through contracts approved under the Russian Suspension Agreement may also apply to the Energy Department if they haven't been able to find a viable alternative source of low-enriched urianium for the nuclear reactor that uses the fuel. The general waivers importers have used up until now no longer will be valid after Aug. 10.
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In a Federal Register notice published May 24, the agency said that its waivers could apply for imports of specific quantities entering between Aug. 11 and Jan. 1, 2028.
"DOE notes that planning for a reactor refueling involves long lead times and a need for certainty concerning the availability of the fuel to support the refueling. Thus, an alternative source needs to be identified and secured many months prior to a scheduled refueling. This timing issue is necessarily a significant factor in determining whether an alternative source is available," the notice said.
However, the government said that viable alternative sources don't have to be as inexpensive as the current supply; rather, that the terms of the contract are reasonable in this market.
To apply for a waiver, email uraniumwaiver@nuclear.energy.gov, with “Request for a Waiver to Permit Imports of Russian LEU” in the subject line.
The email should include your name, address and contact information, and if you are not the end user, the same information for that company. It should include the license number and expiration date of the license you currently have to import Russian uranium, the date you plan to bring in the uranium, and the amount of, and intended use of the waiver you'd like to import, through what date. The agency also is asking what date the fuel would need to arrive at the customer to prevent an interruption in a nuclear reactor's operation, or the operation of a U.S. nuclear energy company.
In addition to that information, the notice said, the request should contain at a minimum the following information, if it is for "a waiver based on a demonstration of no alternative viable source of LEU, a detailed description of reasonable efforts made to obtain an alternative source of LEU, together with a detailed explanation of why the applicant was not able to obtain an alternative source of LEU available on reasonable terms and on the schedule needed to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear reactor or U.S. nuclear energy company."