Russia's uranium exports highlight West's nuclear energy dependence
Despite the attack on Ukraine, Russia – regardless of the imposed sanctions – still remains an important trade partner for the West. One of the export goods is Russian enriched uranium, on which the nuclear power plants of many countries depend.
The Kremlin's propaganda outlet, the Russian-language service Swobodnaja Pressa, published a text about the export of Russian uranium. According to the Russians, as much as 60% of France's demand for enriched uranium is met by imports from Russia.
As emphasized by the Russian editorial team, Russia can "turn off French nuclear power plants even tomorrow" (which, of course, is not true).
Russian uranium is also bought by, among others, South Korea (34%) and the United States (27%), and these countries trade with Russia regardless of the imposed sanctions. Although the Russian text has a propagandistic tone, it signals the real problem of the West, which is the necessity of importing enriched uranium from Russia.
This raw material is needed because it serves as fuel for nuclear power plants, which have a significant share in the energy balance of many countries, or – as in the case of France – constitute its foundation.
Uranium production in the West
Meanwhile, the West, mainly due to environmental costs, has for years limited its own production of enriched uranium, with Russia and China becoming the main producers. Only in recent years has there been a change in this regard and a gradual rebuilding of Western capabilities to independently produce enriched uranium.
In April 2024, the United States reported the production of the first, small batch of this raw material, developing its own facility in Ohio. The decision to launch its own, first European centre producing enriched uranium was also announced by the United Kingdom.
Although developing production on a scale adequate to the needs of the West will take time, the process of pushing Russia out of Western markets has already begun.
