U.S. Nuclear Power Relies Heavily on Foreign Uranium Amid Supply Gap
The United States is significantly dependent on foreign uranium to fuel its nuclear power plants, which are the largest in the world by commercial nuclear generating capacity. In 2024, U.S. civilian nuclear power reactors purchased 55.9 million pounds of triuranium oxide, with 92% sourced from foreign countries. Canada was the largest supplier, followed by Kazakhstan, Australia, Uzbekistan, Namibia, and Russia. This reliance on foreign uranium marks a substantial shift from 1994 when foreign-origin uranium accounted for 41% of U.S. utility purchases. The U.S. operates 94 nuclear reactors with a combined net generating capacity of nearly 100 gigawatts, yet domestic uranium supply only accounted for 8% of total utility demand in 2024. 
