US leadership in the nuclear energy industry is being ceded to countries such as Russia and China, who are quickly becoming leading suppliers of nuclear technologies, an energy official told a House subcommittee .Rita Baranwal, assistant secretary for nuclear energy, told the energy subcommittee in testimony on 3 March that the unique nature of nuclear technology creates a national strategic imperative to maintain US leadership in nuclear energy and “enhance US influence by being competitive in global nuclear energy markets”.“Sustaining the current fleet of operating nuclear power plants is a priority for the nation,” Ms Baranwal said.