Diversifying nuclear energy supply chains

The Clean Air Task Force outlines the EU's current reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, particularly for VVER reactors, and proposes strategies to enhance supply chain resilience through alternative suppliers, domestic production, and strategic international cooperation.

• The EU faces significant dependency on Russian state-owned entities for the procurement of manufactured nuclear energy fuel, specifically for 19 out of 101 operational reactors which are pressurised water reactors (VVERs). These reactors are located in Czechia (Dukovany and Temelin), Slovakia (Mochovce and Bohunice), Bulgaria (Kozloduy), Hungary (Paks), and Finland (Loviisa).
• Russian uranium imports to the EU-27 increased from 20% of the 11,975 tonnes delivered in 2021 to 23% in 2023, driven by stockpiling against potential sanctions and intensified Russian enrichment services. However, imports of nuclear fuel from Russia to Western countries fell from 253t in 2023 to 97t in 2024 as buyers in Bulgaria, Czechia, and Hungary secured contracts with Westinghouse (United States) and Framatome (France).
• The EU's reliance on Russian fuel has been structurally driven by Russia routinely undercutting the prices of other suppliers to maximise exports, leading some power plant operators to rely on a single provider to minimise costs.
• To strengthen supply chains, the Clean Air Task Force recommends that the EU encourage VVER reactor operators to use reliable Western suppliers, boost domestic VVER fuel production, and mandate that buyers contract with at least two different suppliers from different world regions.
• Long-term resilience strategies include moving away from VVER reactor designs entirely to end reliance on Russia for fuel, spare parts, and services. Additionally, the EU should strengthen cooperation with Canada, Australia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan for uranium ore and support EU-owned companies (Urenco, Orano) in expanding enrichment capacity for low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU).

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2025). Diversifying nuclear energy supply chains. https://www.catf.us/resource/diversifying-nuclear-energy-supply-chains/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Diversifying nuclear energy supply chains. 2025. https://www.catf.us/resource/diversifying-nuclear-energy-supply-chains/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Diversifying nuclear energy supply chains |date=25 April 2025 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/diversifying-nuclear-energy-supply-chains/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2025diversifying, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Diversifying nuclear energy supply chains}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/diversifying-nuclear-energy-supply-chains/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }