Greenpeace France Images Uranium Loaded on Ship for Export to Russia

Greenpeace is asking for an finish to the uranium commerce between France and Russia after reporting that it has resumed after a virtually three-year hiatus. The group launched photos of containers with spent uranium being loaded onto a cargo ship within the port of Dunkirk and sure for Russia.

At least 10 containers of uranium, clearly marked with harmful cargo symbols, have been noticed arriving within the port of Dunkirk, France, on Saturday, November 15, and being loaded aboard the cargo ship Mikhail Dudin (3,030 dwt). Built in 1996, the final cargo ship is owned by an organization based mostly in Hong Kong and operates beneath the Panama flag. The vessel departed France noon on Saturday and experiences its vacation spot as Ust-Luga, Russia, a run that Greenpeace says it repeatedly makes carrying enriched or pure uranium.

France, in accordance with Greenpeace, depends on Russia to take its uranium that was spent and reprocessed, as Russia has the one plant on the earth that carries out the operation of changing the reprocessed uranium. It undergoes conversion and re-enrichment, with 10 % despatched again to France in accordance with Greenpeace. They report that France’s EDF plans to make use of reprocessed uranium at its 1300 MWe reactors. Between 1994 and 2013, they report 600 tonnes have been used within the 4 reactors of Cruas-Meysse.

Greenpeace says it protested the shipments in 2022, main the French authorities in September 2022 to halt the commerce. It had solely been resumed in 2021 after beforehand being halted in 2010. Orano, which helps the nuclear business, EDF, and Rosatom, are reported to take part within the commerce, which sees reprocessed materials despatched to Russia and a portion returned for re-use in France.

“Emmanuel Macron repeatedly states the need to develop our economic, technological, industrial, and financial independence, particularly from Russia, which he describes as a threat to France and Europe,” stated Pauline Boyer, nuclear marketing campaign supervisor for Greenpeace France. The group factors out, nonetheless, that the resumption of URT shipments to Russia represents a “disconnect between the French President’s words and actions.”

They are calling for France to report the amount of reprocessed uranium exported to Russia since 2022, in addition to intervening to cease the exports. They are demanding a termination of all import and export contracts.

Greenpeace imagine that France has quietly continued the commerce as a result of it has huge stockpiles, roughly 35,000 tonnes of reprocessed uranium in warehouses. They imagine the underlying goal is to eliminate cumbersome stockpiles of radioactive waste, noting that 90 % turns into saved waste.

Greenpeace believes that among the many future sanctions being mentioned for Russia’s vitality commerce would come with blocks on Rosatom’s nuclear commerce. It says they’re being thought-about along with the persevering with blocks on Russian gasoline and oil. However, they need France to maneuver extra aggressively to finish the commerce instantly.