In setback to Wyoming uranium industry, Trump declines to set domestic quotas

President Donald Trump declared Friday he will not set a minimum on domestic uranium production, despite persistent calls from Wyoming uranium operators and legislators to protect the industry by curtailing the unprecedented influx of uranium from foreign countries.

Before taking any further action, the president instituted a 90-day government working group to consider the national security risks associated with nuclear energy production.

Proponents of the quotas consider restricting foreign sourcing of uranium vital to the country’s economy and national security.

“The quotas were intended to provide a significant level of demand so we can continue to support uranium production in the United States,” said Paul Goranson, chief operating officer for Energy Fuels Inc., one of two companies that filed a petition in 2018 with the Department of Commerce to institute a quota on uranium imports. “Without some sort of market solution or (increased) demand, we will see some retraction in the uranium industry, … which is a continued decline in production, employment, expenditures, everything.”

Read more: https://trib.com/business/energy/in-setback-to-wyoming-uranium-industry-trump-declines-to-set/article_9d671037-28f6-5287-bdf0-72e68a9a277a.html
(Casper Star Tribune)