The New York TimesThe New York Times

Why Russia has such a strong grip on Europe’s nuclear power

By Patricia Cohen

10 Mar 2023 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

Europe depends on Russia's massive nuclear power company, Rosatom, to keep its nuclear plants running. Given the complexities of the nuclear supply chain, that's unlikely to change. The NYT reports.

LONDON — The pinched cylinders of Russian-built nuclear power plants that dot Europe’s landscape are visible reminders of the crucial role that Russia still plays in the continent’s energy supply.

Europe moved with startling speed to wean itself off Russian oil and natural gas in the wake of war in Ukraine. But breaking the long-standing dependency on Russia’s vast nuclear industry is a much more complicated undertaking.

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