Where Industry and Security Intersect
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Effects of Imports of Uranium on the National Security
This investigation was requested by the Secretary of Energy under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, to determine the effects of uranium imports on the national security. Uranium is essential to the operation of the Navy's nuclear-powered fleet, for nuclear weapon capability and for civilian nuclear energy generation. U.S. utilities imported 43.8 percent of their uranium requirements in 1986 and 51.1 percent in 1987. The report found that the domestic industry's competitiveness deteriorated in recent years, due to the easily accessible and richer deposits available elsewhere. The report concluded, however, that in a national security emergency, defense requirements could be met through stockpiles of finished nuclear materials set aside for military needs. Furthermore, civilian requirements could be met through U.S. production, reliable imports, inventories, and tails reprocessing. The report, therefore, found that uranium was not being imported in such quantities or under such circumstances as to represent a threat to the national security.