Germany Approves Nuclear Fuel Deal with Rosatom

The German company Advanced Nuclear Fuels, based in Lingen, has received a license from the regional regulatory authority to jointly produce nuclear fuel with the Russian state-owned company Rosatom. The fuel assemblies will be intended for nuclear power plants using Russian-type reactors.

The German ministry of the environment stated that it does not view the cooperation as desirable, but under current legislation, the regulatory authority had no grounds to deny the permit.

The case also highlights the fact that the nuclear sector remains largely exempt from the European Union's sanctions against Russia.

According to the ministry, Berlin continues to support extending European sanctions to the nuclear energy sector, but EU member states have not yet reached an agreement on such a move.

The project is being carried out by Advanced Nuclear Fuels, a subsidiary of the French group Framatome, which is itself a subsidiary of the energy company EDF.

(Reuters, mja)