Germany approves nuclear fuel line using Russian tech, with counter-espionage measures

Published Jul 24, 09:00 AM UTC

Germany has approved a production line in Lingen, operated by Advanced Nuclear Fuels (ANF), a subsidiary of France's Framatome, to manufacture nuclear fuel for Soviet-designed VVER reactors using Russian licenses, equipment, and components from Rosatom's fuel subsidiary TVEL. The permit, issued on 22 July 2026 by Lower Saxony under federal supervision, includes extensive counter-espionage and cybersecurity measures, such as barring Russian personnel from the site, isolating Russian hardware from factory networks, and mandatory inspections of Russian-made fuel rods. Berlin concluded that Germany's Atomic Energy Act provided no legal grounds to reject the application once security risks were addressed, and a political ban would require EU sanctions lacking majority support. Framatome describes the arrangement as an interim step, with a fully European VVER fuel alternative targeted for 2028. The decision faced approximately 11,000 public objections, and environmental group BUND is considering legal action.