Media reported about the growth of uranium imports from Russia to Germany by almost 70%

Data from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Protection show that at least 68.6 tons of uranium will be imported from Russia to Germany in 2024, which is almost 70% more than in 2023. This was reported by the German magazine Spiegel on January 3.

According to the publication, the uranium comes from two subsidiaries of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom. The material, intended for the operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs), is delivered to Advanced Nuclear Fuels' (ANF) fuel cell plant in Lingen, Lower Saxony.

"There is currently no European Union embargo on the import or export of nuclear fuel for peaceful uses from Russia," the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection said.

It is specified that at present Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia still use Russian-made fuel elements and many European countries are trying to find an alternative. Thus, the ANF company noted that from 2030 it will start operating fuel elements for NPPs of its own production.

On December 16, the European Union (EU) agreed on the 15th package of sanctions against Russia. It included 54 individuals and 30 legal entities. The EU first chose Russian defense companies and shipping companies responsible for transporting crude oil and oil products by sea, which generate important revenues for the Russian government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 7 that the volume of Western anti-Russian sanctions is historically unprecedented, but that the restrictions have not dealt Russia "a crushing blow from which it will not be able to recover." The head of state emphasized that no sanctions will change the fact that Russia is actually needed by the world.

Western countries have tightened sanctions pressure on Russia in connection with the special operation to protect Donbass. The decision to launch it was announced on February 24, 2022 after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.