Putin's nuclear power: Germany and Europe held hostage by Rosatom!

Putin's nuclear power: Germany and Europe held hostage by Rosatom!

A new documentary from ARTE highlights the strategic importance of Russian nuclear power and its impact on the geopolitical situation in Europe. The 90-minute film analyzes the development of the Russian nuclear company Rosatom under Vladimir Putin and its control over almost 50% of global uranium reserves. As Oekonews reports, the dependence of European countries on Russian technology and uranium is clearly visible, especially in states such as Slovakia, Hungary and Bulgaria that rely on Russian nuclear power plants and fuel rods.

The cooperation between France and Russia in the field of nuclear power also remains unbroken. According to the analysis, the 57 nuclear power plants in France cover about 75% of the national electricity needs, of which 10% comes from Italy. Electricity demand could be at risk in the future if relations between the countries continue to strain. Despite geopolitical tensions, particularly in the context of the Ukraine war, France and Russia show mutual consideration in energy cooperation.

Collaboration risks

A current report prepared on behalf of the federal government warns of security-relevant risks resulting from the collaboration between the German company Framatome and Rosatom in Lingen. This cooperation could become a problem given possible espionage and sabotage. There is currently no official statement on the plans, although both Framatome and Rosatom have remained silent when asked. The MDR reports that the EU has not yet sanctioned the trade in fuel elements, which makes the situation more complicated.

The federal government has not yet made a decision as to whether the cooperation will be approved. This case is symptomatic of a larger pattern: while the West sees nuclear power as an economic project, Russia uses it as a geopolitical tool.

Rosatom and its global ambitions

Rosatom's role goes beyond just providing energy. The group is under the presidential administration in Moscow and is responsible for both civil and military nuclear projects. Former employee Kostyantyn Batozsky characterized Rosatom as a “state within a state” that tries to tie other countries to Russia through nuclear deals. MDR highlights that Russia holds 8% of the world's uranium reserves, while Australia controls the largest share at 28%.

Another significant venture is the subsidiary Uraniumone, which acquires shares in uranium mines worldwide - particularly in Kazakhstan, which supplied around 43% of globally traded uranium in 2023. Uraniumone has now established itself as the second largest supplier of raw uranium. Experts warn that transporting uranium to Europe, often via Russia, poses significant risks, especially if Russia wants to use its influence to pursue geopolitical goals.

This makes it clear that nuclear dependence on Russia is not just a question of energy supply, but also has deeper geopolitical implications. This is important to keep in mind as the West seeks to maintain balance in the energy sector while balancing security risks.