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German environmental groups sue state over permit for nuclear fuel rod plant expansion linked to Rosatom
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Environmental organization BUND and other initiatives have filed a lawsuit with the Higher Administrative Court of Lower Saxony against the state's permit for expanding the nuclear fuel assembly plant in Lingen, Emsland. The permit, granted in July by State Environment Minister Christian Meyer (Greens), allows the manufacture of fuel rods for Russian or Soviet-design nuclear power plants with assistance from Russian state-owned enterprise Rosatom. Plaintiffs argue that Rosatom's involvement poses espionage and sabotage risks, especially amid Russia's war in Ukraine and increasing sabotage attempts in Germany. They claim the environmental impact assessment was incomplete and based on outdated documents, and that Rosatom's role was not fully disclosed. The conditions attached to the permit, such as banning Rosatom employees from the factory, are deemed insufficient. The EU has excluded the nuclear industry from sanctions against Russia despite 21 sanction packages. The plant, operated by Framatome subsidiary ANF, already processes Russian uranium and has an indefinite operating license despite Germany's nuclear phase-out.
Source report
Environmental groups cite fears of espionage and sabotage; EU continues to exempt nuclear industry from Russia sanctions
Publication Date: September 11, 2026, 2:53 PM
By: Reimar Paul
The planned expansion of the nuclear fuel assembly plant in Lingen, Emsland, and the associated entry of Russia's state-owned nuclear enterprise Rosatom, are now headed to court.
The environmental organization BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany) and other initiatives have filed a lawsuit against the State of Lower Saxony with the Higher Administrative Court of Lower Saxony (OVG). The legal challenge targets a permit granted in July by State Environment Minister Christian Meyer (Greens) for the manufacture of fuel rods for nuclear power plants of Russian or Soviet design, with the assistance of Rosatom. The OVG has confirmed receipt of the lawsuit to taz.
Security Concerns Cited
BUND chairman Olaf Bandt justified the organization's opposition to the project, stating:
"Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine, and dangerous attempts at sabotage are increasing in Germany."
Bandt noted that while the European Union attempts to stop the Russian shadow fleet, Rosatom simultaneously gains access to critical infrastructure in Lingen. Since both manufacturing and parts of quality control at the plant are carried out using machines supplied by Rosatom, production and inspection processes could be manipulated.
"This raises serious security and foreign policy questions," Bandt said. "Nuclear infrastructure in Germany must not become a gateway for Russian state interests. Every nuclear cooperation further cements dependence on Russia."
Environmental Impact Assessment Challenged
From the perspective of the coalition filing the lawsuit, the environmental impact assessment procedure also fails to meet legal requirements. Susanne Gerstner, chairwoman of BUND Lower Saxony, explained that the preliminary review was "incomplete" and based on outdated documents. Additionally, Rosatom's involvement was not fully disclosed in the application documents, meaning the French operator of the nuclear fuel assembly plant violated applicable law and withheld important information from the public.
Conditions Deemed Insufficient
The conditions attached to the permit—including a general ban on Rosatom employees entering the factory—do not provide effective protection nor solve the fundamental problem of cooperation with Rosatom, according to the plaintiffs.
"How can conditions dispel security concerns if the partner itself is the problem?" asked Bettina Ackermann from the anti-nuclear organization Ausgestrahlt.
Background
The nuclear fuel assembly plant in Lingen is operated by ANF, a 100 percent subsidiary of the French company Framatome GmbH. The facility is more than 45 years old and holds an indefinite operating license despite Germany's nuclear phase-out—similar to the uranium enrichment plant in Gronau, Westphalia. Both facilities process uranium supplied from Russia.
The coalition filing the lawsuit views the plant's cooperation with Rosatom as further evidence of Europe's nuclear dependence on Russia. Despite 21 sanction packages against the country, there are still no sanctions in the nuclear sector.
As early as 2024, demonstrations were held against the expansion of the Lingen nuclear fuel assembly plant and the possible entry of Rosatom. (Photo: Detlef Heese/imago)
Source
taz.de - taz.deWestern