Britain mentioned on Monday its 75-million-pound ($90.5 million) fund aimed toward serving to enhance home manufacturing of nuclear gas for energy crops and reducing reliance on Russian uranium provides was now open for purposes.

The fund, introduced in July, will award grants to companies concerned in uranium conversion, a key stage within the course of of making nuclear gas from the metallic. It’s going to stay open for purposes from Monday till Feb. 20.

Russia presently owns round 20% of world uranium conversion capability.

“File excessive world fuel costs, attributable to Putin’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, have highlighted the necessity for extra home-grown renewable power, but in addition UK generated nuclear energy – constructing extra crops, and creating home gas functionality,” Minister for Power and Local weather Graham Stuart mentioned.

As much as 13 million kilos from the fund has already been awarded to the Springfields nuclear gas manufacturing web site in northwest England, the federal government mentioned.

Power provide has change into a key focus since its invasion of Ukraine drove prices sharply greater. Deliberate additions to nuclear electrical energy technology capability will scale back Britain’s reliance on pure fuel, which fuelled round 45% of technology in 2021.

Britain in November mentioned it will change into a 50% shareholder within the Sizewell C nuclear challenge by offering 700 million kilos in funding to the plant, which is deliberate for southeast England.