WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Mining Association (NMA) today issued the following statement from Rich Nolan, NMA President & CEO, applauding the Department of Energy (DOE) action to secure domestically-sourced uranium for a strategic reserve.
“For far too long, our country has unnecessarily relied on imports to meet our uranium needs, putting us at great energy and national security risk. With half of those imports coming from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought the issue to the forefront and made the status quo untenable. There is simply no need to turn to geopolitical rivals for materials we could be getting right here at home, while creating high-paying jobs, adhering to environmental protections that are among the highest in the world, and utilizing the most advanced mining technologies and safety practices in industry. While the solicitation is an important first step in establishing the reserve, far more must be done to support and advance domestic uranium and other mineral mining projects. Whether you’re looking at energy, manufacturing or more broadly at our economy, U.S. mining is essential to every aspect of the administration’s climate and economic agenda; made in America must include mined in America. There’s no getting to where we want to go without embracing the need and opportunity for increased domestic mining.”
# # #