EU prioritises gas import ban, delays Russian nuclear fuel restrictions

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen announced on Monday that the European Commission will not include measures to limit the EU’s dependence on Russian nuclear fuel in its proposals to ban Russian gas this week.

This week, the EU executive is set to propose legal measures to achieve its stated goal of ending Russian gas imports by the close of 2027.

The European Commission had previously announced its intention to introduce significant trade measures in June, specifically targeting enriched uranium.

Limiting Russian uranium imports 

The proposed measures are designed to diminish the appeal of importing enriched uranium from Russia, thereby encouraging member states and other reliant nations to seek alternative suppliers. 

Further, the strategic move aims to diversify the global supply chain for enriched uranium, reducing reliance on a single dominant source and promoting greater stability and security in the energy sector. 

The initiative is part of a broader effort to reconfigure international trade relationships and strengthen energy independence, particularly in light of evolving geopolitical landscapes.

“That will also come, but in the first stage, we’ll be focusing on the gas,” Jorgensen was quoted as saying to reporters when asked about the timing of the nuclear proposals, in a Reuters report. 

The question about nuclear is, of course, complicated, because we need to be very sure that we are not putting countries in a situation where they do not have the security of supply. So we’re working as fast as we can to also make that a part of the proposal.

Russia’s supplies to EU

In 2023, Russia played a significant role in the EU’s nuclear energy supply chain, providing a substantial portion of both enriched and raw uranium. 

Data from the influential economic think-tank Bruegel indicates that Russia was responsible for supplying 38% of the EU’s enriched uranium. 

This enriched uranium is crucial for fueling nuclear power plants across the continent, highlighting the EU’s considerable reliance on Russia for a key component of its energy mix.

Furthermore, Russia also contributed 23% of the EU’s raw uranium in the same year. Raw uranium, once mined, undergoes a complex process of enrichment before it can be used in reactors. 

This dual supply of both the raw material and the processed fuel underscores the depth of Russia’s involvement in the EU’s nuclear sector. 

The Euratom Supply Agency will co-sign new supply contracts for Russian uranium and enriched uranium, which the Commission has stated it intends to restrict.

EU’s energy expenditure on Russia

Brussels has set a deadline of end-2027 to cease Russian gas imports. 

However, no such date has been indicated for the EU to discontinue Russian nuclear supplies.

This is due to the intricate dependence of various countries on Russia for fuel, spare parts, or fuel cycle services, and the potential threat to security of supply if these ties were abruptly cut.

In 2024, the EU’s energy expenditures on Russia totaled 23 billion euros ($26.63 billion), with approximately 1 billion euros allocated specifically for nuclear fuel, according to the Commission.

Russian-designed reactors, currently reliant on Russian fuel, are operational in five EU nations: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, and Slovakia. 

Since 2022, all these countries except Hungary have secured contracts for alternative fuel supplies. However, due to lengthy waiting periods, an immediate transition is not feasible for them.

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