Around 25 anti-nuclear activists held a demonstration on October 21 outside a nuclear fuel manufacturing plant in Lingen, Germany. They protested against Russian uranium shipments and the facility's cooperation with Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, German public broadcaster NDR reported.
The demonstration was prompted by the expected arrival of a Russian cargo vessel at the port of Rotterdam. Activists suspected that it might be carrying enriched uranium and nuclear fuel components intended for the plant in Lingen.
However, NDR reported that the vessel's arrival had been delayed. At the time of the demonstration, there was no reliable confirmation of the cargo's contents.
The plant belongs to Advanced Nuclear Fuels, part of the French Framatome group. It manufactures fuel for nuclear power plants and plans to expand production to include fuel for Russian-designed reactors.
The project involves cooperation with Rosatom. Environmental organizations and civic activists have protested the arrangement, arguing that continued technological ties with Russia are dangerous amid its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Opponents fear industrial espionage, sabotage and growing dependence of Europe's nuclear industry on Russian technology. These concerns reflect the protesters' assessment and do not mean that such activities have been established at the plant.
The Lower Saxony Environment Ministry previously authorized the project subject to specified conditions. In early October, authorities also approved its accelerated implementation, allowing the operator to begin the necessary preparations for production.
The regional branch of the environmental organization BUND announced plans to pursue legal measures against the cooperation with the Russian corporation.
Protest organizers said they intended to hold another demonstration in December.
The dispute surrounding the Lingen plant illustrates how cooperation between European businesses and Russia's nuclear industry remains a source of political and public controversy despite sanctions in other sectors of the economy.