The German state of Lower Saxony has approved a controversial plan allowing the production of Russian-designed nuclear fuel assemblies at the fuel fabrication plant in Lingen.
The approval was granted on Wednesday by the Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment on behalf of the federal government, despite strong objections from the state's Environment Minister Christian Meyer of the Green Party. Although the authorization was issued, several conditions were attached regarding the involvement of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
Meyer stressed that he personally considers Russian participation in nuclear fuel production to be fundamentally wrong. However, he said his ministry was legally required to approve the application after the federal government informed the state authorities that there were no legal grounds to reject it. According to the federal government’s assessment, Russia’s nuclear sector is not currently subject to international sanctions.
Meyer argued that Germany should be reducing rather than increasing dependencies on Russia, especially in the sensitive nuclear sector. He pointed out that Rosatom reports directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been accused of involvement in military activities and serious human rights violations.
Particularly controversial is the plan for Rosatom to participate directly in the production process. Meyer said he could not understand the federal government's current assessment of potential espionage and sabotage risks associated with close cooperation with Russia, especially given repeated warnings from German security agencies about hybrid threats targeting critical infrastructure.
The Lower Saxony Environment Ministry imposed several security-related requirements as part of the approval. Under the conditions, Rosatom employees will generally be prohibited from entering the Lingen facility. In the rare cases where exceptions are authorized, Russian personnel must be accompanied at all times by representatives of the supervisory authorities.
In addition, hardware and software used in Russian-licensed machinery must undergo security inspections and remain isolated from the plant’s other IT systems. Further measures are aimed at preventing potential espionage and sabotage activities.
Germany's Federal Environment Ministry, led by Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD), stated that licensing decisions must be based on legal requirements rather than political considerations.
According to the ministry, if all legal criteria are met and identified risks can be adequately mitigated through safeguards and conditions, authorities are obligated under nuclear law to grant approval.
The authorization is based on a federal government assessment prepared mainly by the Federal Environment Ministry in February. Germany’s Chancellery under Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and the Federal Interior Ministry under Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) were also involved. The assessment included input from German security agencies regarding Russia's role in the project.
The project was proposed by Advanced Nuclear Fuels (ANF), a subsidiary of the French nuclear company Framatome.
ANF intends to expand production at its Lingen facility by manufacturing VVER-type hexagonal fuel assemblies, which are commonly used in Russian-designed nuclear reactors, particularly in Eastern Europe. To achieve this, the company plans to cooperate with Rosatom and utilize Russian components and technologies.
Harald Ebner, a Green Party nuclear policy expert, criticized the federal government, arguing it had possessed strong legal instruments that could have kept Rosatom out of Lower Saxony. Instead, he said, the decision would enable Russia to expand its geopolitical influence in Europe.
CDU foreign policy politician Roderich Kiesewetter also condemned the authorization, calling it a threat to national security and arguing that the decision should be reversed. He told Politico magazine that the approval could almost be interpreted as either a successful Russian influence operation or an act of extraordinary irresponsibility.
Environmental and anti-nuclear groups reacted similarly. The anti-nuclear organization ausgestrahlt described the approval as irresponsible and a "security policy madness." Activist Bettina Ackermann warned that the decision could endanger the security interests of both Germany and other European Union member states.
The approval highlights the tension between legal requirements, energy policy, and national security concerns in Germany. While the federal government maintains that the project complies with applicable law and includes sufficient safeguards, critics argue that any increased dependence on Russian nuclear technology carries unacceptable risks in the current geopolitical environment. The debate is expected to continue as the project moves forward under strict regulatory oversight.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
