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Greenpeace Says France Still Buys Russian Nuclear Fuel, Citing Total Reliance on Re-Enriched Uranium

The report presses for EU sanctions on Rosatom, underscoring challenges created by France's nuclear-heavy power system.

Overview

  • Published on January 28, the Greenpeace analysis details ongoing French imports of enriched and re-enriched uranium from Russia, including re-enrichment at Seversk in Siberia.
  • Greenpeace says France is 100 percent dependent on Russia for re-enriched uranium used in its nuclear industry.
  • About half of France's recent natural uranium imports came from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with much of that material transported through Russia with Rosatom's involvement.
  • The group reports that the origin of roughly half of enriched uranium imports over the past two years could not be determined and calls for transparent tracking of supply chains.
  • Rosatom is not under EU sanctions due to a lack of consensus, while France's 57 reactors provide about 70 percent of its electricity and a 2022 plan foresees 14 new reactors.