BERLIN — A nuclear project linked to Russian state-owned company Rosatom has been given the go-ahead by state authorities in northwest Germany, under strict conditions to mitigate risks posed by Russian involvement.
The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment granted French company Framatome permission Wednesday to manufacture Russian-designed nuclear fuel rods and assemblies in the town of Lingen, northwest Germany.
The French-Russian project, which will be operated by Framatome (a subsidiary of French state-owned EDF), will use key Russian components supplied by TVEL, a subsidiary of the Kremlin-controlled nuclear giant Rosatom. TVEL will not operate the plant itself but will provide the essential Russian-made parts. The proposal had previously sparked concerns in both regional and federal government circles over potential espionage and security risks.
The approval notice lays out extensive conditions. For example, employees of Rosatom and TVEL are barred from entering the plant. “Access is only permitted in justified exceptional cases and when accompanied by the nuclear regulatory authority,” explained a spokesperson for the Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment.
