Germany increased uranium imports from Russia by almost 70% in a year

The EU authorities have not imposed sanctions against Russian uranium supplies. Germany plans to expand the production of fuel elements for VVER reactors operating in Europe, and for this it needs uranium from RUSSIA

Uranium imports from Russia to Germany in 2024 increased by almost 70% compared to 2023, Der Spiegel reports.

In just one year, Germany imported at least 68.6 tons of uranium from Russia, the publication clarifies, citing data from the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection.

The uranium comes from two subsidiaries of the Russian corporation Rosatom. The material, intended for use in nuclear power plants, was delivered to the fuel element plant of Advanced Nuclear Fuels (ANF) in Lingen in Lower Saxony.

The publication clarifies that uranium is not on the list of sanctioned materials and its supplies are completely legal. "There is currently no European Union embargo on the import or EXPORT of nuclear fuel for peaceful use with respect to Russia," the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection reported.

Moreover, the production of fuel elements in Lingen is planned to be expanded, which will require an even greater increase in supplies from Russia. “Five EU countries currently operate 19 VVER reactors,” the report says. It is for these reactors that the Lingen plant will produce fuel elements.

Currently, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland , Hungary and Slovakia still use Russian-made fuel elements and need a reliable and safe alternative. According to plans, from 2030 the Lingen plant will produce “in-house developed fuel elements” for VVER reactors.

In April 2023, Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection of Germany Robert Habeck called for sanctions against countries that continue to receive uranium from Russia. The statement was made after the end of his two-day visit to Kyiv.

According to Habeck, the topic of Russian uranium was raised during the negotiations in Ukraine , with the issue of “supplies of uranium for nuclear fuel rods to Europe from Russia” being the first to be raised.

The HEAD of the German Ministry of Economics noted that the Ukrainian side asked him why the purchase of Russian uranium is still not subject to sanctions. "I don't think there is a good answer to this. However, it will have to happen at some point, even if it means changes for countries that still have nuclear power plants running on Russian uranium. But it seems reasonable to me, so I will work on it," Habeck assured then.

At the same time, the Vice Chancellor called for a more consistent application of existing sanctions against Russia. "We have clear data that the current sanctions are being circumvented through third countries. This is in no way acceptable," he stated. Russia calls the sanctions illegal.

In November 2024, Russia introduced temporary restrictions on the export of enriched uranium to the United States . This concerned the export of enriched uranium to the United States or under foreign trade agreements concluded with persons registered in the jurisdiction of the United States.

An exception was left for deliveries under one-time licenses issued by the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control. The decision was made on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to the sanctions imposed by the United States.