Since the Ukraine War began in February 2022, it has had repercussions worldwide, especially in Europe where the determined support of the latter to the Ukrainian government is given in political and military scenarios. This has resulted in the suspension of Russian gas exports, but it is not the only thing since, from the energy point of view, Putin has another play.
Europe’s dependence on Russian exports
Even after the sanctions product of the Russian invasion against Ukraine, where the Putin government took as retaliation the suspension of hydrocarbon exports such as natural gas and oil, Europe is largely dependent on other products for energy generation. Because this country has traditionally been one of the greatest suppliers, a place that will not be easily removed.
Since Russia also needs this foreign exchange income to keep its economy relatively healthy. And precisely this is why this country maintains exports of raw materials in other energy sectors. This situation generates a dependency of Russia to the European Union from which it will be very difficult to free itself. As an example is nuclear energywhich provides 24 % of the electricity of the continent.
Putin has another letter for the European Union to continue depending on Russia
This European dependence on Russian exports occurs mainly in the field of atomic energy where Moscow supplies, approximately, 23 % of the fuel consumed by the reactors of the European Union. This makes the second place as a supplier of this material only exceeded by Canada, who is responsible for supplying 33 % of the total, that is, between them they provide more than 55 % of this nuclear raw material.
It seems difficult for Europe to divorce from Russia and this is the letter of triumph that Putin has to dominate it through this unit. And not only would European countries be but all those who have nuclear plants and that do not self -state or have active uranium farms with technology to process it and transform it into atomic fuel.
Since the Russians occupy the sixth position in the world regarding the mining of this element after Kazakhstan, Canada, Namibia, Australia and Uzbekistan, however, these countries do not have the technology for the transformation and enrichment that Russia possesses. In this sense, the data ensures that 43 % of the enriched uranium, worldwide, It is provided by the Russian state -owned Rosatom or any of its subsidiaries.
Some alternatives so that the nuclear future of the European Union does not continue in the hands of Putin
The most viable alternative in the short term for Europe comes from renewable energies such as photovoltaic and wind which could absorb electrical demand as a whole in the short term, as long as all the necessary investments are already made to accelerate the projects that are already underway and start new ones so that the next two or three years are ready.
Nuclear energy could be a complement to renewables that guarantee the stability of the electrical systemso you can use the technology of the minirreactors (such as this that is very simple and that it is said that it is the salvation of humanity). This alternative can be combined with the recovery of the refinement and enrichment capacity of uranium.
In summary, until now Europe realizes that it does not depend only on Russian gas and oil but also on its nuclear fuel, since it currently provides 23 % and is the second supplier. These are the letters with which Putin plays (although the old continent will hit him with this turbine). However, it is not too late to take the measures of the case.
