Canadian-Owned Westinghouse Electric Receives Russian Uranium Shipments Under Active U.S. Energy Waivers

OTTAWA, ON & PITTSBURGH, PA — A joint investigative report by CBC News' The Fifth Estate and international trade watchdogs revealed that Canadian-owned Westinghouse Electric Company and major nuclear operators continue to import low-enriched uranium (LEU) from Russia to fuel commercial nuclear reactors across North America, utilizing statutory waiver provisions in federal sanctions legislation.

Investigation Findings and Trade Data

The investigation analyzed international maritime manifests, customs filings, and energy regulatory disclosures, outlining ongoing Western reliance on Russian state nuclear monopoly Rosatom:

• Import Quantities and Valuation: Data compiled by the Bellona Environmental Transparency Center showed that U.S. nuclear utilities and fuel fabricators imported approximately 400 tonnes of Russian enriched uranium in 2025 alone, valued at nearly $1 billion USD. Major commercial recipients included Westinghouse Electric—co-owned by Canadian private equity giant Brookfield Renewable Partners and Cameco Corporation—which received roughly 27 tonnes of Russian LEU.
• Statutory Waiver Mechanism: While the U.S. enacted the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act in August 2024, the legislation authorized the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to grant temporary import waivers through January 1, 2028, in instances where no viable domestic enrichment alternative exists or where imports are deemed critical to grid reliability.
• Canadian Regulatory Disparity: Unlike the United States, the Government of Canada has not imposed direct sanctions on Rosatom or its commercial export subsidiary, Tenex, allowing Canadian-based energy conglomerates to maintain contractual relationships through American subsidiaries.

"Western nuclear operators remain caught in a severe strategic vulnerability," energy policy analysts noted in the report. "While Western nations have sanctioned Russian oil, gas, and coal, Russia still controls nearly 44 per cent of global uranium enrichment capacity, making an immediate decoupling from Russian nuclear fuel a severe operational challenge for base-load power grids."

Parliamentary Scrutiny and Industry Decoupling

The investigation sparked immediate reaction on Parliament Hill, with opposition critics and non-proliferation advocates calling for tighter scrutiny on Canadian corporate ownership structures and accelerated capital investments in domestic enrichment capabilities in Ontario and Saskatchewan.

Westinghouse and Cameco representatives stated that they are actively investing hundreds of millions in expanding North American conversion and enrichment infrastructure, including the expansion of the Springfields facility in the UK and conversion facilities in Port Hope, Ontario, to achieve complete supply-chain independence before the 2028 waiver expiration.

Policy Outlook and Energy Security

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources is expected to request testimony from energy executives and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission officials to evaluate national nuclear supply-chain resilience ahead of planned Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployments.