Flickering Faith in Lingen's Nuclear Ties with Russia: Anti-Nuclear Activists Cry Foul
Hopeful demonstrators advocate for cessation of nuclear collaboration with Russia - Pro-nuclear energy factions anticipate the cessation of joint ventures with Russia.
Let's chat about the nuclear fuel factory in the Emsland town of Lingen, where anti-nuclear advocates are raising a fuss about the factory's involvement with Russian nuclear corporations, particularly Rosatom. "The proposed partnership between Rosatom and the Lingen nuclear factory is a bold contradiction to the laudable goals of the EU Commission," says Bettina Ackermann from the anti-nuclear organization Ausgestrahlt. The new administration must nix the permit for this project, she asserts.
The EU Commission is vigorously working towards banning the import of Russian gas into the European Union by 2027's end. Detailed measures for this goal will be presented to member states in June, as per a plan announced in Strasbourg. In the arena of nuclear energy, the commission plans to impose measures against Russian imports of enriched uranium, and restrictions on new supply contracts for uranium, enriched uranium, and other nuclear materials from Russia are under consideration.
In 2024, nearly 69 tons of uranium from Russia landed in Lingen.
Last year alone, a whopping 68.8 tons of uranium from Russia was shipped to the Lingen nuclear fuel factory. Despite the ongoing Russian conflict with Ukraine, the quantity jumped by approximately 66% compared to the previous year, as the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment reported upon request.
"Our focus should be on lessening our uranium imports from Russia, as agreed upon in the coalition agreement," stated Lower Saxony's Minister of the Environment, Christian Meyer (Greens), at the beginning of 2025, demanding sanctions. Dealing with the war-mongering Putin, especially in the sensitive nuclear sector, is necessary, Meyer insists, alluding to the Russian president. Russia aspires to expand its influence, and this is extremely hazardous.
The Lingen nuclear factory is under the control of the French state-owned company Framatome. Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH (ANF), a subsidiary of the Framatome group, aims to produce nuclear fuel for Russian reactor types within the factory as well.
- Lingen
- Nuclear Fuel Factory
- Russia
- EU Commission
- Federal government
- Rosatom
- EU
The Nuanced Nature of the Lingen-Russia Ties
- The Lingen factory, operated by ANF and involving Framatome, initially intended to produce fuel assemblies for VVER reactors, Soviet/Russian-designed reactors operated in some Central and Eastern European countries.
- In 2023, Framatome teamed up with Russia's TVEL (a Rosatom subsidiary), forming European Hexagonal Fuel SAS, to produce these VVER fuel assemblies in Lingen.Initially, plans included some level of Russian involvement via licensing and supply chains.
- However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent geopolitical tensions, plans shifted towards a Framatome-led production at Lingen, still operating under TVEL's license, hinting at Rosatom's continued technological and commercial influence despite reduced direct involvement[2][3].
The EU's Perspective
- While Framatome's efforts aim to reduce Europe's direct dependence on Russian fuel imports, Rosatom continues to exert considerable influence in the supply chain as the license holder and sub-supplier. This raises concerns about continued Russian influence via technology licensing, commercial ties, and board participation in decision-making at the joint venture[2][3].
- The EU plans to replace Russian uranium imports due to safety and sanctions concerns. However, replacing VVER-type fuel is a complex and gradual process. Many EU VVER reactors currently hold sufficient fuel stockpiles for two to three years to deal with potential supply disruptions[2][3].
- The legal permit process to adapt the Lingen plant for VVER fuel production has been ongoing since March 2022, but critics worry that this cooperation could perpetuate Europe's dependence on Russian nuclear technology and fuel[1].
Public and Political Reactions
- In Germany, which is phasing out nuclear power but continues some operations due to energy concerns, protests near the Lingen plant have been frequent, advocating against cooperation with Russian nuclear suppliers and demanding sanctions on Rosatom[4].
- Germany grapples with the difficult task of balancing energy security needs and EU policy goals, aiming to restrict Russian imports in response to the war in Ukraine[4].
This situation reveals the challenges the EU faces in decoupling its nuclear fuel supply from Russian influence while maintaining stable energy supplies[1][2][3][4].
- The EU Commission's plan to impose measures against Russian imports of enriched uranium, and restrictions on new supply contracts for uranium, enriched uranium, and other nuclear materials from Russia are under consideration, given the ongoing Russian-Ukraine conflict and the EU's goal of banning Russian gas imports by 2027's end.
- Despite the German government's aim to reduce Europe's direct dependence on Russian fuel imports, public protests near the Lingen nuclear fuel factory have been regular, advocating against cooperation with Russian nuclear suppliers and demanding sanctions on Rosatom due to concerns about continued Russian influence through technology licensing, commercial ties, and board participation in decision-making at the Lingen factory.
- Balancing energy security needs and EU policy goals, Germany grapples with the difficult task of restricting Russian imports in response to the war in Ukraine, while also maintaining stable energy supplies, as the Lingen nuclear fuel factory continues to procure uranium from Russia.
