Nuclear disruption: Europe will not impose a ban on nuclear fuel from Russia
Hungary categorically opposes the embargo on the import of Russian nuclear fuel, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Izvestia. According to him, the ban will not be introduced, as several other EU countries also intend to continue cooperation with Russia in the nuclear energy sector. Earlier, the European Commission proposed to cancel new contracts for the purchase of nuclear materials from our country, but after objections postponed the publication of specific measures. At various times, France, Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria opposed sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry. Currently, Russia provides 20-25% of uranium imports to the EU, and an attempt to replace its supplies will lead to higher prices and lower competitiveness, experts say.
Which EU countries are ready to maintain ties with Russia in the nuclear field
Hungary and several other large EU states are against a ban on the import of nuclear fuel from Russia, so such a measure will not be introduced at the moment, the country's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Izvestia.
— We are categorically against the ban on nuclear fuel. Since there are many countries in Europe that use Russian nuclear fuel, I am quite sure that there will be no such ban. REPowerEU (EC's plan to abandon Russian energy resources. — Ed.) was also supposed to include nuclear energy, but this item was deleted. And I really think the reason is that there are several large and powerful countries in the European Union that are very interested in continuing cooperation with Russia in the field of nuclear energy. And as long as these large and powerful European countries are interested in continuing nuclear cooperation with Russia, there will be no such ban," Szijjarto explained to Izvestia.
In May, the European Commission presented a roadmap for the complete abandonment of Russian energy resources, including nuclear fuel. Its integral elements are enriched uranium. The EC's plan provided for restrictions on the conclusion of new contracts involving the supply of enriched uranium and other nuclear materials from the Russian Federation. At the same time, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states were the most active supporters of abandoning Russian nuclear fuel. Berlin shut down the last nuclear power plants in 2023, Poland is only planning to create its own nuclear power plant, and the Ignalina nuclear power plant in the Baltic States was shut down in 2009.
However, the roadmap immediately met with resistance. Budapest and Bratislava are against the refusal, as they believe this measure will lead to higher prices and endanger the EU's energy security. Slovakia has extended the contract for the supply of Russian nuclear fuel for its Mokhovce and Bogunice nuclear power plants until 2030. Bulgaria declared back in 2023 that it would not support EU sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry.
France has repeatedly spoken out against restrictions. Paris has a perfectly understandable reason: in 2018, Techsnabexport and the French Electricite de France signed contracts for the processing of French regenerated uranium from spent nuclear fuel.
In June, the EC postponed the publication of proposals to ban EU countries from importing nuclear fuel from Russia. According to European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jorgensen, the situation around him is difficult, because "we must be completely sure that we will not put EU countries in a situation where they will not have reliable supplies."
Hungary will find it particularly difficult to abandon cooperation with Russia in the nuclear field. Nuclear generation accounts for about half of the total electricity consumed by the country. Budapest and Moscow are implementing the Paks-2 NPP project, which was removed from the EU and US sanctions lists by Hungary's efforts. According to Szijjarto, the pouring of the "first concrete" into the foundation is expected in early 2026.
Paks-2 NPP in Hungary
Supplies of Russian nuclear fuel are also carried out without problems, the head of the Hungarian foreign Ministry told Izvestia.
— We have safe routes. The reason I never talk about them is because it's a security issue. There are countries around us that are very reliable transit countries in this regard, and supplies have been carried out without any problems so far," said Peter Szijjarto.
It is worth noting that in 2024, at that time, US President Joe Biden signed a law that prohibits the import of Russian uranium, retaining exceptions until 2028. Moscow responded by imposing temporary restrictions on the export of enriched uranium to the United States.
Why can't the EU abandon nuclear fuel from Russia
Abandoning Russian nuclear fuel is not so easy. In 2023, Russia provided 38% of the supply of enriched uranium and about 23% of natural uranium to the EU. There are currently 101 nuclear reactors operating in the European Union, of which 19 are Soviet VVER (water—to-water power reactors), they are located in Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Finland.
— Rosatom is one of the world's largest players in the field of enriched uranium, it is present in the market of finished nuclear fuel in almost all segments. There is also the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including cooperation with the Europeans," Igor Yushkov, an expert at the Financial University and the National Energy Security Fund, told Izvestia.
At the same time, it is technically possible to replace Russian nuclear fuel. For example, the American company Westinghouse has created fuel assemblies for Soviet-Russian design reactors. Companies from France, South Korea and Japan operate in this segment.
However, the expert emphasizes that any restructuring of the markets will cause an increase in prices for these products in Europe. And this is already hitting the competitiveness of the European economy and keeping prices high for consumers. The EC has calculated that investments in the amount of €241 billion will be required to create its own full-fledged supply chain. For comparison, the entire budget of the union for 2024 amounted to €189.3 billion.
External circumstances also have a negative impact on the EU. As Vladimir Shapovalov, Deputy director of the Institute of Politics and History at Moscow State University, emphasized, Germany dismantled its nuclear industry, France and Britain lost the necessary competencies in its development. This is accompanied by difficulties in obtaining other energy resources, because the EU intends to abandon Russian oil and gas immediately. And if we look at this process rationally, then it is not profitable for the EU to destroy relations with Moscow in the field of peaceful nuclear energy. Because no country, including the United States, will be an adequate substitute for Russia.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
