US president Joe Biden on Monday (13 May) signed legislation banning the import of Russian enriched uranium, starting a 90-day countdown until limits on shipments take effect.

Biden’s signature also unlocks some $2.7bn (€2.5bn) in spending, previously approved by Congress, to build up domestic uranium supplies for US nuclear plants.

That money was contingent on the federal government imposing limits on Russian uranium imports.

The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act bars imports from Russia, but allows for temporary waivers until January 2028 if “no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium is available to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear reactor or a United States nuclear energy company” or if the imports are determined to be in the national interest.