Why Russia Still Rules the Uranium Enrichment Market

Why Russia Rules Uranium Enrichment—and Why the U.S. Still Buys Its Fuel. This video explains how Russia became the world’s dominant uranium enricher—controlling roughly 40% of global enrichment capacity—and why that matters for every country running nuclear power plants. We break down the nuclear fuel cycle from mining and conversion to enrichment and fabrication, show how centrifuge technology concentrates U-235, and explain why enrichment (measured in SWU) is the chokepoint of the entire supply chain. You’ll learn how Russia’s state company Rosatom and its export arm have built expansive capacity and long-term contracts that many utilities still rely on, including in the United States—despite the U.S. being one of the largest consumers of nuclear electricity. We also look at Western alternatives (Urenco, Orano, and emerging U.S. capacity), HALEU needs for next-gen reactors, sanction debates, price spikes, and the real timelines required to diversify away from Russian supply.

Key takeaways:
• Enrichment—not mining—is the strategic choke point in nuclear fuel.
• Russia’s scale, pricing, and long-term contracts keep utilities hooked.
• Western expansion is underway but takes years and billions to build.
• HALEU demand for advanced reactors could deepen near-term reliance.
• Policy choices (sanctions, incentives, stockpiles) will shape prices and reliability.

If you found this helpful, please like/subscribe and drop your questions in the comments—what should we cover next: HALEU supply, or how fuel assemblies are made?

Видео Why Russia Still Rules the Uranium Enrichment Market канала GenZ