MONIZ QUESTIONED ON DEPARTMENT’S URANIUM TRANSFERS FOR USEC

Energy Secretary nominee Ernest Moniz emphasized the need for a domestic enrichment capacity yesterday when questioned about support for USEC, and called for a uranium management plan for the Department of Energy’s uranium transfers. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wy.) grilled Moniz on the topic at his confirmation hearing, stating that uranium transfers that have supported a DOE program for USEC’s American Centrifuge project have “contributed to a near-20 percent drop in the price of uranium and put new uranium mining projects at risk in other locations.” Moniz said that he would take into account “the health of our domestic industry” in such transfers in the future, adding, “I think an integrated uranium plan along these lines I think is what we need to deliver.” The Department has yet to release an update to its Excess Uranium Inventory Management Plan, which was due to Congress last June.

On American Centrifuge, Moniz affirmed that “it’s a requirement that we have an American origin technology for enrichment,” which has been the Administration’s argument for funding a research, development and deployment program for the technology. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) pushed Moniz on his support for the Ohio project. “If confirmed will you personally focus on this application to ensure that this loan guarantee program gets the attention it deserves?” Portman asked. Moniz replied. “Yes, sir, I will. And certainly as you’ve implied, the next months will be very important to demonstrate the cascade performance.”