Despite Sweden halting all direct uranium imports from Russia, Russian-linked material may still enter the country’s nuclear supply chain. In a recent investigation by SVT, reporters examined how Sweden’s nuclear plants source uranium and highlighted the difficulty of tracing its true origin across a complex global market.
Russia’s Stake in Swedish Uranium Supply
Henrik Wachtmeister, researcher in global energy systems at the Swedish Institute for International Affairs and Uppsala University, collaborated with SVT on key calculations. He noted that Kazakhstan’s dominant role in global uranium production, combined with Russian ownership stakes, increases the likelihood that Russian-linked uranium reaches Swedish reactors. His analysis shows that if Oskarshamn had continued sourcing evenly from Kazakh producers, Russian-owned companies could have received significant revenue from Swedish demand.
The article also broadened the discussion, outlining Russia’s substantial share of global enrichment capacity and the EU’s continued reliance on Russian uranium despite wider energy sanctions. With the European Commission pushing a strategy to phase out Russian energy dependencies, the investigation underscored the geopolitical and economic implications for Sweden’s future nuclear expansion and the potential reopening of domestic uranium mining.
Read the Full Article
To read SVT’s full reporting and explore Henrik Wachtmeister’s expert insight, visit the complete article on SVT’s website.
