Transport of uranium to Russia. Greenpeace: “It is not illegal, but it is immoral”
Greenpeace France is sounding the alarm: uranium trade between France and Russia is intensifying, as evidenced by a new shipment of recovered uranium from Dunkirk.
The French branch of Greenpeace announced that, in its opinion, uranium trade between France and Russia has intensified. Activists cite as evidence the transport of recovered uranium observed in Dunkirk, which was to be sent to Russia. The matter was publicized on Sunday, and the organization claims that it is the first such export in three years.
Legal transport
The representative of Greenpeace France, Pauline Boyer, emphasized in an interview with AFP that although the transport itself does not violate the regulations, it raises serious ethical concerns. “It’s not illegal, but it is immoral,” she said. She called on the French authorities to end cooperation with the Russian state-owned company Rosatom. She also recalled that this company controls the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, located in southern Ukraine.
On Saturday in Dunkirk, Greenpeace activists documented the loading of several containers onto the Mikhail Dudin ship, flying the flag of Panama. According to the organization, this unit regularly calls at the French port to unload enriched or natural uranium imported from St. Petersburg. This time, however, the observed load concerned recovered uranium, which – as ecologists emphasize – has not happened for three years.
Agreement with a Russian company
In the background of these activities there is an agreement between the French concern EDF and the Russian side. In 2018, EDF signed a contract worth EUR 600 million with Tenex, a company owned by Rosatom. The subject of the agreement is the re-enrichment of spent uranium. According to the current regulations, these operations are not covered by the sanctions introduced against Russia, which formally enables continued cooperation.
In March 2024, the French government announced that it would seriously consider building its own uranium conversion and re-enrichment facility on the country’s territory. Such a step could reduce dependence on external partners in this area in the future. However, Greenpeace believes that it is necessary to suspend existing contracts with Rosatom now, especially in light of the observed transport of recovered uranium from Dunkirk to Russia.
According to the organization, the latest charge confirms that despite the tense geopolitical situation and sanctions, some nuclear cooperation between France and Russia is continuing. It is this situation that has caused the latest alarm among environmentalists and their appeal for a change in policy in the area of uranium trade.
