In 2022, the year of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, "nearly half of the natural uranium imported into France came from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan", 43% exactly, underlined Greenpeace in a report published two days before the start of the examination by the French National Assembly of a bill aimed at accelerating the construction of new nuclear reactors.

However, according to the NGO, "virtually all the natural uranium from Kazakhstan, and a considerable part of that from Uzbekistan, passes through the hands of (the Russian civilian nuclear monopoly, editor's note) Rosatom, which controls the transport of all nuclear materials transiting on Russian soil", via rail convoys to the port of Saint Petersburg, then cargo ships to France.

"These transports can only be carried out subject to obtaining a license issued by Rosatom", a company also involved in the production of uranium in Kazakhstan, notes Greenpeace.

Routes avoiding Russian territory "do not currently represent real alternatives", adds the report.

The 99-page text is based on public data (customs, publications from companies, public organizations, NGOs, think tanks and the media).

Natural uranium, extracted from mines, must be enriched to be used as fuel in nuclear power plants.

France has a dedicated factory in Tricastin (south-east), managed by Orano.

The Penly nuclear power plant in Petit-Caux, Seine-Maritime, December 9, 2022 © Lou BENOIST / AFP/Archives

Greenpeace had already described as "scandalous" the continuation of nuclear trade with Russia, a sector which is not targeted by international sanctions, unlike hydrocarbons.

The organization had in particular noted that France had received from Russia "a third of the enriched uranium necessary for the operation of French nuclear power plants for one year", a tripling in 2022 according to it.

"Also in 2022, all French exports of reprocessed uranium (URT) were sent to Russia, and all imports of re-enriched uranium (URE) in France came from Russia", according to the same source.

"Contrary to what the defenders of the atom assert, the dependence of the French nuclear sector on the Russian authorities is immense, which could explain why France continues to actively oppose the sanctions against Rosatom at the European level", has said Greenpeace on Saturday.

Contacted Saturday morning by AFP, neither the French Ministry of Energy Transition, nor EDF, nor Orano reacted immediately.

© 2023 AFP