The Uranus remains taboo? Why there are disputes in the EU over Russian uranium

The list of sanctions against Russia is long: it starts from coal and oil to caviar. A total of 1242 punitive measures have taken the EU against Russia since the beginning of the war: private oligarch assets have been frozen, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian state bank camels. In 10 package sanctions, EU leaders have taken months to undermine the Russian economy and force Russia to stop aggression against Ukraine.

What is noteworthy is that no uranium was placed on any list of sanctions. The Russian atomic industry could continue to do businesses with Europeans, businesses that bring devises to the Kremlin crates. And this is about Europeans themselves. Some European countries also want to buy Russian bridges, Russian fuels, and nuclear technicians in wartime.

“End” by year's end?

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck wants to change that. “Ukrains want uranium sanctioned by Russia”, Habeck said after a visit to Kiev in an interview for deutschland radio radio radio radio- He sees this right, that the Russian state earns a lot of money with the sale of the uranium. But Habeck doesn't see an immediate ban on uranium import. “Even in oil and coal we couldn't do this right away.” But a deadline can be set. to reduce the amount for six months and “after a quarter of this year this end”, according to German Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

German government backs ban on uranium import

Now the German government officially said, for the European Commission to decide on the 11th package of sanctions businesses and the Russian atomic industry. Reason: We've seen how Russia deliberately uses dependence on the energy sector as a means of pressure. This proposal should then be discussed by all 27 member states. Five EU countries have Soviet-era atomic plants; Hungary, Bulgaria, Chekhia, Slovakia and Slovenia are dependent on co-operation with the Russian concert Rosatom.

According to Myle Schweider's assessment, nuclear energy policy analyst in Paris, uranium is the smallest problem. 20% of the natural uranium was taken from Russia in 2021, plus 24% from countries under Russian influence such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Schweider doesn't have any great European addiction, and he sees business maneuvering opportunities for Canada, Australia, South Africa. that can offer uranium, though at higher prices.

But according to Schweider, the biggest addiction is to the atmoic fire bars. In all five European countries with Soviet-type atomic power plants, there are 15 atomic plants for which “Russia is the only producer of the fuel rod”. And that means “without question a large dependence on Russia”. The expert envisions protest on the German government's plan not only from Eastern Europe. “France has many reasons to oppose such sanctions against Russia. ”

Still in December 2021, Framatome, a French concert subsidiary, EDF, the largest atomic power plant operator, signed a long-term statistical agreement with the Russian concert, Rosatom. Early in 2022, President Macro offered Rosatom a 205 share in the company producing special turbines for atomic plants. France has close business ties in atomic energy, and if these were placed on the sanctions list, “Franca would be removed practically the only market to bring the turbines”, expert Schweider points out.

France Versus Germany

Currently there is no signal that France will give up its atomic business with Russia. France's reactions after the criticism from Berlin are clear: Atomic energy makes a significant contribution against global warming, it says in Paris, because it is neutral in terms of CO2 emissions. There are rarely rarely any criticisms from French partners, reminding Germany that this country still produces one third of its energy with intensive exploitation of CO2. /dw