German authorities have approved a controversial project allowing a subsidiary of French nuclear company Framatome to manufacture Russian-designed nuclear fuel in partnership with Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom.
According to French media, the Environment Ministry of Lower Saxony authorized Advanced Nuclear Fuels (ANF) to expand production at its facility in Lingen. The project is intended to produce fuel for Soviet- and Russian-designed nuclear reactors operating in Central and Eastern Europe.
The expansion will involve the use of Russian technology and technical expertise. However, the ministry said the authorization could be reviewed if new national security risks emerge.
Officials acknowledged they had repeatedly expressed concerns over the project because of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, describing the case as exceptional given the current geopolitical situation.
Despite those concerns, the ministry said it had no legal basis to reject the application, noting that such a decision would require European Union sanctions specifically targeting Russia’s civilian nuclear sector.
Advanced Nuclear Fuels submitted the application in March 2022, shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The proposal faced opposition from several political groups in Germany, particularly the Green Party.
According to reports, a new security assessment addressing Russian involvement played a key role in the final approval. French President Emmanuel Macron also discussed the issue with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
While the European Union has imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Russian oil and gas, civilian nuclear cooperation has largely remained outside the sanctions regime due to the dependence of several member states on Russian-designed reactors and fuel supplies.
Russia also continues to hold a significant position in the global uranium supply chain through its domestic resources and investments in uranium-producing countries, including Kazakhstan.
Source: ED News