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, ie more than 40% of France’s supply, in addition to enriched uranium.
The French government refuted this argument, assuring that “ our country does not depend in any way on Russia for the operation of its nuclear power plant ” 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, almost all of 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. Roads from nuclear avoiding Russian territory” note today represent no 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.
Ihe 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 previously called it ” scandalous » the continuation of nuclear trade with Russia, a sector which is not targeted by international sanctions, unlike hydrocarbons.
” France should cease 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 mostly transits through Russia, so passes through the hands of Rosatom, which controls the transport of nuclear materials on its soil,” says Pauline Boyer, nuclear campaigner at Greenpeace.
“ Also in 2022, all of France’s exports of reprocessed uranium (URT) were sent to Russia, and all of France’s imports of re-enriched uranium (URE) came from Russia. “, again according to Greenpeace.
” France is totally dependent on Russia for the reuse of its reprocessed uranium. We find it scandalous that this trade continues when 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 source from Russia for its natural uranium supply or fuel preparation, as is erroneously implied by Greenpeace. It is a difference that our country has with some of its European neighbors “.
“ With regard to sanctions against Russia, the French position on this subject is constant. : the sanctions must have an impact on the economy of the targeted country. Nuclear sanctions would have a modest impact on Russia “, again according to the minister’s office.
“ 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 least “, pleaded the cabinet. For its part, EDF said “ maximize(r) the diversification of its geographic 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 related to failure to obtain the required administrative authorizations, while respecting the contractual commitments made “added the company. She stressed that she had ” purchased no natural uranium from Russian mines or natural uranium conversion services in Russia in 2022 “, neither “ increased its share of enrichment of its non-Russian natural uranium carried out in Russia in 2022 compared to 2021 “.