Canadian-owned Westinghouse still receiving Russian uranium despite U.S. ban
Despite the Ukraine war, Canadian-owned Westinghouse Electric continues importing low-enriched uranium from Russia under U.S. Department of Energy waivers set to expire in 2028.
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While Russian President Vladimir Putin's military occupies Ukraine's largest nuclear plant and attacks the country's power infrastructure, Western countries—including the United States—still depend on Russian nuclear fuel to power their electricity grids.
Canadian-owned Westinghouse Electric is among the companies receiving low-enriched uranium (LEU) from Russia to fuel commercial nuclear reactors in the United States. The company imported roughly 27 tonnes of Russian uranium in 2025, according to shipping data analyzed by a reporter estate.
The U.S. banned the import of Russian enriched uranium in August 2024 to "sever U.S. dependence on Russian material and secure a strong domestic fuel supply," according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act allows the Department to waive the ban if "no alternative viable source of LEU is available" or the "import of the LEU is in the national interest." These waivers are scheduled to end by January 1, 2028.
The Bellona Environmental Transparency Center in Vilnius, Lithuania, reported in June that the U.S. imported 400 tonnes of low-enriched uranium from Russia in 2025 alone, worth around $1 billion USD. Major recipients included subsidiaries of the French-owned nuclear company Framatome (more than 127 tonnes) and U.S. nuclear fuel supplier Global Nuclear Fuel Americas (more than 110 tonnes).
One March shipment to Westinghouse's fuel fabrication plant outside Columbia, South Carolina, included 50,612 kilograms of uranium transported in four containers from Russia's St. Petersburg port and arriving in Baltimore. Enriched uranium shipped to Westinghouse's facility is processed into fuel pellets and then assembled into fuel rod assemblies sent to commercial nuclear power reactors.
The European Union has no ban on Russian enriched uranium imports. Canada has not sanctioned business with Russia's state atomic energy corporation Rosatom or its export arm, Tenex. Dmitry Gorchakov, nuclear adviser at Bellona, said: "We are against these exports while there is this situation of war [and a] direct threat to Ukraine. All countries should try to lower their dependence on Russia and cancel all possible co-operation."
Westinghouse's stated position on continuing to import Russian uranium and its plans regarding the January 2028 ban have not been disclosed.
What is Westinghouse's position on continuing to import Russian uranium after 2028?
Will the Canadian government sanction business with Rosatom and Tenex?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
By the numbers
How much Russian uranium did Westinghouse import in 2025?
Westinghouse Electric imported roughly 27 tonnes of Russian uranium in 2025, according to shipping data analyzed by a reporter.
When does the U.S. waiver allowing Russian uranium imports expire?
The waivers allowing imports of low-enriched uranium from Russia under the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act are scheduled to end by January 1, 2028.
When was the U.S. ban on Russian enriched uranium imports put in place?
The United States banned the import of Russian enriched uranium in August 2024 to sever U.S. dependence on Russian material and secure a strong domestic fuel supply.
How much low-enriched uranium did the U.S. import from Russia in 2025?
The U.S. imported 400 tonnes of low-enriched uranium from Russia in 2025 alone, worth around $1 billion USD, according to the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center.
