Report warns of Rosatom deal
Russian entry into nuclear factory alarms experts
February 16, 2024, 4:15 p.m
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In order to make Eastern European nuclear power plants independent of deliveries from Russia, a factory in Lower Saxony is to step in for production. Franco-Russian cooperation is planned for this purpose. But that is exactly what could open the door to influence from Moscow, warns an expert.
The planned production of fuel elements for Eastern European nuclear power plants in Germany is causing safety concerns: a report warns against cooperation with a Russian state-owned company. It cannot be ruled out that this cooperation could endanger the internal or external security of the Federal Republic of Germany, according to the report by nuclear law expert Gerhard Roller for the Federal Environment Ministry. Fuel elements for nuclear power plants in Europe have been manufactured in Lingen for more than four decades.
Advanced Nuclear Fuels (ANF) is owned by the French company Framatome. In the future, the company in Lingen will also produce fuel elements for Soviet-designed Eastern European nuclear power plants. This is intended to make power plants in Eastern Europe more independent of deliveries from Russia. The ANF parent Framatome entered into a joint venture in France with a subsidiary of the Russian nuclear company Rosatom.
An application for this is currently being examined by the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment on behalf of the federal government. The Lower Saxony ministry should, among other things, investigate the question of whether employees of the Rosatom subsidiary TVEL would have access to the facility in Lingen. The audit should also answer to what extent the Russian subsidiary should be integrated into the decision-making structures of the joint venture and whether employees of the Rosatom subsidiary have management responsibility.
“Rejection of approval is possible”
One reason for the state government to refuse approval could also be security concerns about the staff of the Russian cooperation partner, writes expert Roller. He referred to the limited information available to German security authorities regarding Russian citizens and to Russia’s actual ability to intervene in the company. Access for certain personnel would have to be prohibited by a requirement. “If this were not a sufficient means of excluding corresponding risks, a refusal of approval could also be considered,” says the report.
“All dangers caused by Russia’s participation in production must be ruled out,” explained Minister Christian Meyer from the Greens. “The report confirms our opinion that questions of internal and external security are the subject of the approval process – and not just questions of fire protection and building safety.”