Julia Verlinden, the deputy faction leader for the Green Party in the Bundestag, has called for a comprehensive review of the potential cooperation between a Russian state corporation and the ANF nuclear fuel factory to produce nuclear materials within Germany. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (noz), Verlinden urged the federal government to conduct a new safety evaluation of the atom plant in Lingen.
Verlinden argued that since the German government has accused Russia of responsibility for the explosives attack on the Halle/Leipzig airport, the risks associated with involving a Russian state corporation in domestic nuclear fuel production must be urgently reassessed. “It is unacceptable that employees of a state that no longer threatens Germany merely through hybrid means should be present at a nuclear factory in Lower Saxony,” she stated to noz.
According to Verlinden, a national policy reassessment of security issues could lead to changes in the permits for the Lingen facility and curb Russian influence. Furthermore, she emphasized that implementing stricter security measures in Lingen is not just a domestic matter, but also crucial for maintaining credibility with European partners, including nations in Northern Europe and the Baltic states.
