The Federal Government is apparently looking to participate in the atomic technology concern Urenco for geostrategic reasons. The Federal Government plans to acquire one third of the multinational fuel element manufacturer based in Great Britain, reports “Welt” (Saturday edition).
Urenco also operates a uranium enrichment plant in Gronau, Germany. Previously, Great Britain and the Netherlands each held a one-third stake in Urenco. The remaining one-third was shared by the two former German nuclear power operators, RWE and Eon.
Surprising, a new expenditure item appeared during the budget draft 2027 cleaning session in the Bundestag last Thursday. It stipulated expenses related to the acquisition and maintenance of holdings in companies in the energy industry totaling 4 billion Euros.
The Federal Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs neither wanted to clarify, upon request, for which energy industry holding the Federal Government needs 4 billion Euros. A spokesman for Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU) stated that understanding was requested because they could not currently comment on the matter. As is customary, ongoing confidential procedures are not commented on.
According to the report, this sum has been allocated for the acquisition of the Urenco stakes from RWE and Eon. Both concerns have held participations in Urenco through the holding Uranit UK Limited. The companies stated when asked that they would not comment on rumors.
According to insiders, the energy providers want to divest their holdings for two reasons. First, the stake in a fuel element manufacturer holds no strategic value for the concerns after the German phase-out of nuclear power. Second, Urenco, which was previously focused on civilian nuclear energy, is being increasingly involved in the military nuclear field at the request of Great Britain.
On June 29, 2026, the Urenco Group announced in a statement that the British government had formally requested the company to support the development of a fuel cycle for reactor fuel for defense purposes. This expanded the business, which had previously been focused on supplying civilian nuclear power plants, into the military sector for the first time.
