Russia and France's nuclear joint venture may tighten Moscow's grip on Europe's energy

In Eastern and Central Europe alone, as many as 18 nuclear power plants, designed by Russia and reliant on its technology, use enriched uranium supplied by Rosatom. The fuel for them is produced right in the heart of Europe.

Even as Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron exchange military threats, engineers from both nations are working together to shape the future of the nuclear industry, Bloomberg reports.

Rosatom Corp., the nuclear behemoth, is joining forces with the French government-owned company Framatome SA to obtain fuel for reactors that supply electricity to around 100 million people in Eastern Europe. This operation is based at the Framatome facility in Lingen, Germany.

Countries like Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia continue to utilise Russian technology, Bloomberg observes.

Last year, Framatome created a joint venture with the Russian firm TVEL Fuel Co., and this new partnership is currently seeking approval from the German government for the technology transfer to Lingen.

Bloomberg highlights that this move could further cement Russia's control over nuclear energy in Europe.

Vladimir Shlyak, a Russian environmental activist, expressed in Bloomberg that this development "would greatly increase Europe's dependency on Russia for its energy policy and would enhance the Kremlin's geopolitical influence."