Energy & Resources
Germany approves French-Russian nuclear fuel project despite security concerns
German authorities said on Wednesday that they had approved a disputed French-Russian nuclear project that critics fear could create risks of spying and sabotage by Moscow.
The planned joint venture would involve ANF, a subsidiary of French company Framatome, and Russia's state-owned nuclear power agency Rosatom. It is intended to produce fuel rods for Russian-designed reactors at Framatome's fuel rod assembly facility in Lingen, in Lower Saxony near the Dutch border.
ANF applied for permission in March 2022, weeks after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lower Saxony's environment ministry said it had decided to approve the project, although the state's environment minister, Christian Meyer, said close cooperation with President Vladimir Putin's nuclear agency was wrong. Meyer said the ministry had no legal way to reject the application or set a time limit because Rosatom is not under sanctions.
Rosatom has not been included in successive European Union sanctions packages against Russia, with the source citing a lack of alternatives to Russia in civil nuclear energy.
The approval includes restrictions. Meyer said Rosatom employees, or employees of Russian nuclear fuel maker TVEL, would be allowed onto the site only in very limited cases and while accompanied by the relevant inspectorate. Russian equipment will have to undergo external audits and be kept separate from other installations. ANF workers will also have to receive regular training on security risks.
Lower Saxony's environment ministry said the approval could be reviewed if new risks are found, especially risks linked to national security.
Marc Henrichmann, a lawmaker from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right CDU and chair of the parliamentary committee overseeing intelligence agencies, told AFP that Russians were seeking indirect ways to keep vital parts of critical infrastructure under their control. He said Framatome should work with other producers instead of Rosatom. He also said transatlantic partners had already been supplying Ukrainian reactors with the same type of fuel rods.
The Greens have also criticised the project, saying it could allow Moscow to gather information on sensitive nuclear facilities in Germany. Germany's domestic intelligence agency declined to comment.
Germany is a major backer of Ukraine and has been alert to what the source described as signs of hybrid warfare directed by Moscow. Germany shut down its own last nuclear reactors in 2023. Some former Soviet-influenced countries, as well as Finland, still use Soviet-era nuclear power plants and need fuel compatible with those reactors. The source also said Russia controls a large share of the global uranium supply through its reserves and interests in former Soviet states such as Kazakhstan.
Update
Lower Saxony's environment ministry said it had no legal basis to reject or limit the application because Rosatom is not under EU sanctions.
Rosatom and TVEL employees may enter the Lingen site only in very limited cases and accompanied by the relevant inspectorate.
Russian equipment must undergo external audits and remain separate from other installations.
ANF employees must receive regular training on security risks.
The approval can be revisited if new risks are identified, particularly national security risks.
Marc Henrichmann, who chairs the parliamentary committee supervising intelligence agencies, warned against Russian influence over critical infrastructure.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency declined to comment when contacted.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 15:22:31 UTC.
Update
Lower Saxony's environment ministry said it had decided to approve the project.
Environment minister Christian Meyer said cooperation with Putin's nuclear agency was wrong but that his ministry had no legal basis to reject or time-limit the application without sanctions on Rosatom.
The approval includes limits on access by Rosatom employees or Russian nuclear fuel manufacturer TVEL staff, who would be allowed on site only in very limited cases and with the relevant inspectorate.
The ministry said the approval could be revisited if new risks are identified, especially in national security.
CDU politician Roderich Kiesewetter said the federal government should intervene and that the decision was dangerous to security and must be reversed.
The Greens said the plan could allow Moscow to gather information on sensitive nuclear facilities in Germany.
The source added context on Germany's support for Ukraine, Germany's closure of its last nuclear reactors in 2023, fuel needs for Soviet-era reactor designs, and Russia's role in global uranium supply.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 12:21:11 UTC.
Update
Rosatom has been exempted from EU sanctions imposed after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Roderich Kiesewetter of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU said the federal government should intervene to stop the Lingen project.
Kiesewetter told Politico the Lower Saxony decision was dangerous to security and must be reversed.
Germany is Ukraine's biggest backer in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion, according to the source.
Germany has been on high alert for signs of hybrid warfare directed by Moscow.
Germany closed its last nuclear reactors in 2023.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 11:07:16 UTC.
Update
The approval was announced by the environment ministry in the state of Lower Saxony.
The project is a planned joint venture to produce fuel rods between Russia's Rosatom agency and a subsidiary of France's Framatome.
Critics fear the project could enable spying and sabotage by Moscow.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 10:54:57 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source says the approval may be revisited if new risks are identified.
Source
AFP news report published on .