Cooperation between Framatome and Rosatom on Fuel Element Production in Lingen Poses a Threat to Germany’s Nuclear Security – DiXi Group at a Press Conference
November 15, 2024, Hannover – German anti-nuclear organizations, including AgiEL and .ausgestrahlt, together with the Ukrainian think tank DiXi Group, have called on the Lower Saxony government to deny French company Framatome permission to expand its fuel element production facility in Lingen. This expansion is planned in partnership with the Russian state corporation Rosatom. The organizations warn of potential risks to Germany’s nuclear and internal security, particularly concerning Rosatom’s possible access to critical infrastructure.
Framatome plans to produce fuel elements for Russian-designed reactors in Eastern Europe at its Lingen facility. To this end, Framatome established a joint venture in France with TVEL, a subsidiary of Rosatom. Earlier this year, Rosatom employees spent several weeks working unsupervised in Lingen to set up production capabilities for “Russian” fuel assemblies at a former furniture factory.
The Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment has received over 11,000 objections from the public, including from DiXi Group, expressing concerns about Rosatom’s potential influence on Germany’s nuclear sector. Public hearings regarding the permit for the facility expansion in Lingen are scheduled for November 20.
During the press conference, Olena Lapenko, General Manager for Security and Resilience at DiXi Group, emphasized the threats posed by cooperation with Rosatom.
“Rosatom’s direct involvement in the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant constitutes a gross violation of international law. The facility operates on the brink of blackout, creating unprecedented risks for nuclear safety. The IAEA has documented alarming evidence of the site’s militarization, including its mining, as well as incidents of torture. These actions clearly demonstrate that Rosatom is not a reliable partner for ensuring Europe’s energy security but rather a tool of blackmail in the hands of the Russian authorities,” Lapenko stated.
Representatives from .ausgestrahlt and AgiEL also highlighted risks of espionage and sabotage. Bettina Ackermann, a representative of the national anti-nuclear organization .ausgestrahlt, noted that Rosatom has direct access to information about Germany’s critical nuclear facilities and uses its partnership with Framatome to influence the German market.
“The Russian state corporation Rosatom is a global nuclear company directly subordinate to President Putin, advancing his geopolitical ambitions. Rosatom doesn’t even need physical access to the fuel element plant since they already know the staff, and the uranium and technology come from Russia. Framatome is already dependent on cooperation with the Kremlin. The federal government must not remain passive and must terminate this collaboration,” Ackermann stressed.
Alexander Wendt from the AgiEL alliance added: “Framatome’s behavior is irresponsible. Through training conducted in the spring, Rosatom has already gained direct personal access to many employees at the fuel element plant. This is a disaster for security, and the inaction of Germany’s security authorities is alarming. We fear that Lingen will now become a pawn in Putin’s geopolitical nuclear strategy. We categorically reject this.”
The initiative for public hearings and the strong societal response underscore the growing resistance in Germany to Russian influence in the country’s strategic sectors.
This material was prepared by the NGO DiXi Group with support from the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework of the project ‘Improving Tomorrow’s Energy Security.’ The material reflects the authors’ positions and does not necessarily represent the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.
