Russians — outside the plant: Berlin allowed Russian technologies to fuel for nuclear power plants

The German authorities allowed the country to produce nuclear fuel for Soviet reactors using Russian technology. However, for this, a joint venture of French and Russian companies had to offer strict restrictions for specialists and equipment from Russia at a German factory.

"Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH (ANF) has received permission to expand its fuel assembly plant in Lingen," ZDF reports with reference to the Ministry of the Environment of Lower Saxony.

ANF is a joint venture of the French Framatome and TVEL, which is part of Rosatom, and plans to produce fuel assemblies for Soviet reactors that are used at nuclear power plants in Central and Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe.

"The Ministry of the Environment of Lower Saxony has reviewed the application for the law on nuclear energy on behalf of the federal government. According to the federal government's assessment, the possible risks can be reduced under the conditions so that a legally guaranteed refusal (of the project) is impossible," ZDF reports.

Nevertheless, according to the German TV channel, the Environment Minister of Lower Saxony, Christian Mayer, considers the decision politically "fundamentally wrong."

"This is not a chocolate factory," the minister said.

Permission is granted subject to serious restrictions for Russian specialists. Thus, TVEL and Rosatom employees cannot enter the plant's territory, and exceptions are possible only in narrowly defined cases and under the supervision of the supervisory authority.

Moreover, the hardware and software of the Russian equipment should be separated from the rest of the plant's IT system.

"Fuel rods supplied from In Russia, they should be checked for manipulation exclusively with the help of scanners and the principle of four eyes," ZDF reports.

Thus, the requirement to exclude espionage or sabotage is fulfilled.

The specialized telegram channel RealAtomInfo wonders what Rosatom can steal at the plant where its technologies are used.

"Now comes the moment of truth for the French. Previously, they blamed everything on the evil Germans who did not give consent for Lingen. Now this obstacle has been eliminated, and it will become clear whether the French need this joint venture or whether it was a common deceptive move in the style of modern Western diplomacy," RealAtomInfo writes.

The American Westinghouse is already producing alternative fuel assemblies for Soviet reactors in the countries of Central Eastern Europe and the French Framatome is trying to keep up with competitors while the countries The EU plans, but cannot yet abandon both Russian fuel and Rosatom's uranium conversion and enrichment services.