Greenpeace accuses France of being "under Russian influence" on the nuclear file
The Tricastin nuclear power plant (Illustrative image).
REUTERS/Michel Euler/Pool
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Greenpeace said on Saturday March 11 that the French nuclear industry was "under the control" of Russia,
via
imports of natural uranium from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, i.e. more than 40% of France's supply, in addition to enriched uranium.
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The French government refuted this argument, assuring that “
our country is in no way dependent on Russia for the operation of its nuclear power plants
” and “
has been able to diversify its sources of supply
”.
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
”.
That is to say, 43% exactly, underlined Greenpeace in a report published two days before the start of the examination by the 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 Rosatom (of the Russian civil nuclear monopoly, editor's note) 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.
Nuclear
routes
avoiding Russian territory "do not
currently represent real alternatives
", adds the report.
The 99-page text is based on public data: customs, publications by 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, in Drôme, managed by
Orano
.
Greenpeace had already described as "
scandalous
" the continuation of nuclear trade with Russia, a sector which is not targeted by international sanctions, unlike hydrocarbons.
“
France
should stop uranium trade with Rosatom
”
“In 2022, Russian enriched uranium imports have almost tripled to reach a third of the quantity needed to operate our nuclear power plants for one year in France. The uranium that we buy from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan mainly transits through Russia, so it passes through the hands of Rosatom, which controls the transport of nuclear materials on its soil”, specifies
Pauline Boyer, nuclear campaign manager at Greenpeace.
"
Still 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", still according to
Greenpeace .
“
France is totally dependent on Russia for the reuse of its reprocessed uranium.
We find it scandalous that this trade continues while the French government openly supports the Ukrainian people and should today cease the uranium trade with Rosatom
”, continues Pauline Boyer.
France does not get its supplies from Russia, according to the Ministry of Transition
But according to the cabinet of the Minister for Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher, France “
does not supply itself to Russia for its supply of natural uranium or the preparation of fuel, as is wrongly implied by Greenpeace.
It is a difference that our country has with some of its European neighbours
”.
“
With regard to the sanctions against Russia, the French position on this subject is constant: the sanctions must have an impact on the economy of the targeted country.
Sanctions on the nuclear sector would generate a modest impact on Russia
”, still according to the cabinet of the minister.
“
Conversely, the termination of the last remaining contracts relating to the reprocessing of fuels would generate more advantageous compensation for Russia than their continuation
at a minimum”, pleaded the firm.
For its part, EDF said “
maximize(r) the diversification of its geographical sources and its suppliers” in nuclear fuel: “we are not dependent on any site, any company or any country
”.
EDF, which opposes the "confidential nature" of the details of its supplies, "
strictly applies all international sanctions and/or restrictions linked to the failure to obtain the required administrative authorizations, while respecting the contractual commitments made
", added the society.
The latter underlined that it had "
purchased no natural uranium extracted from Russian mines, nor from natural uranium conversion services in Russia in 2022
", nor "
increased its share of enrichment of its non-Russian natural uranium carried out in Russia in 2022 compared to 2021
”.
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