The Washington administration intends to provide US energy companies with about 20 tons of plutonium from previously destroyed nuclear warheads for possible use as fuel for nuclear power plants, Reuters reported, citing its sources.
The US Department of Energy is expected to begin accepting proposals from companies for the use of plutonium in the near future. The US administration will be ready to provide it at a low price or for free, but the companies will have to bear all the costs of transporting and storing this cargo, as well as for possible subsequent processing.
The agency specifies that the aforementioned 20 tons will be taken from the stockpile of 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium, which the US authorities previously undertook to destroy in accordance with agreements with the Russian side.
The US Department of Energy neither confirmed nor denied the allegations cited in the publication. The department noted that they are considering various options for creating and strengthening nuclear fuel supply chains.