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Unclear EU policy on Russian nuclear fuel imports harms investment, states Orano

The European Union's lack of clarity concerning Russian nuclear fuel imports is keeping back financial investment in new uranium enrichment plants, stated an executive at French nuclear fuel expert Orano.

WHY IT is necessary

Long-term prices for enriched uranium, utilized to make fuel for nuclear reactor, have actually increased from $60 per separation work system (SWU) before the Ukraine war to $166 today, after some Western nuclear power manufacturers decreased imports from top supplier Russia.

The greater prices for enriched uranium, produced by firms like Orano, will raise expenses for nuclear power producers in coming years.

KEY QUOTES

What is holding operators back a bit from investing in new enrichment capacities is the need for a clear framework, stated Jacques Peythieu, Orano's Director of Customer and Strategy.

The United States is presently ... aiming for zero Russian imports from 2028 - with exceptions - and has customs responsibilities on Chinese imports. Europe is far more timid and does not have a. really clear policy on the topic.

KEY CONTEXT

Russia supplied more than 25% of European and American. enriched uranium before the start of the Ukraine war in February. 2022.

Russia's Rosatom represent 43% of set up uranium. enrichment capacity, compared to 31% for the European group. Urenco and 12% for state-owned Orano.

The U.S. carried out a ban on imports of enriched uranium. from Russia in August, with some exemptions, however in Europe. different countries have actually taken different approaches.

WHAT'S NEXT

Orano will break ground on a 1.7 billion euro ($ 1.86. billion) expansion at its fuel enrichment plant in southern. France on Thursday, after seeing a strong rise in demand from. its U.S. clients.

It likewise prepares to start enhancing uranium in the United. States in the early 2030s as part of a new project in Tennessee.

(source: Reuters)