German factory cleared to produce Russian-type nuclear fuel elements

A factory in Lingen, Germany, can now produce fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment approved the expansion of the Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH (ANF) facility under strict security conditions. ANF, part of the French Framatome group, plans to manufacture hexagonal fuel elements for Soviet-era reactors using technology from Russia's TVEL, a subsidiary of the state-owned Rosatom.

Lower Saxony's Environment Minister Christian Meyer, of the Green Party, sharply criticized the collaboration. He called business dealings with the Russian nuclear giant "fundamentally wrong," emphasizing the need to reduce dependencies on Russia, particularly in the sensitive nuclear sector. However, Meyer stated that the state could not legally reject the application.

The federal government, after its review, concluded that sufficient risks of espionage or sabotage were not present. Lower Saxony acted on behalf of the federal government and was bound by its assessment. Strict security measures are in place, including a ban on access for TVEL and Rosatom employees. Russian machinery and software must undergo external verification and be isolated from the factory's main IT systems. Fuel rods supplied from Russia will be thoroughly inspected for tampering.