Overview
- On Wednesday Lower Saxony published a conditional permit allowing Advanced Nuclear Fuels, a Framatome subsidiary, to produce hexagonal VVER fuel at its Lingen plant using Rosatom/TVEL licences and technology.
- The permit is based on a federal February safety assessment that found risks from espionage, sabotage and manipulation could be managed and it imposes strict rules such as a ban on Rosatom/TVEL staff access, external checks of Russian machines, IT segregation and full inspection of imported rods.
- Politicians across parties, parliamentary intelligence overseers and anti‑nuclear groups sharply criticized the decision as creating security and geopolitical risks and warned revenue or influence could benefit the Kremlin.
- The approval is not legally final, it can be challenged in court, production may only start once the permit is enforceable, and ANF can apply for Sofortvollzug to seek immediate enforcement before legal appeals are resolved.
- Observers note VVER fuel is not exclusively supplied by Rosatom—companies like Westinghouse also make hexagonal fuel—which raises questions about whether a Rosatom licence was necessary and about possible EU policy or market responses.