It looks like nuclear energy globally is experiencing a genuine renaissance, particularly in Europe. However, the huge costs and complexity of building new nuclear power stations prevent nuclear energy being a quick fix for all the problems of Western countries.  Moreover, without Russia it is simply not possible.

With the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the EU began to steadily reduce purchases of energy from Russia, particularly gas, intending to end gas imports from Russia completely by 2027.  As at the end of June 2023, Russia’s share of EU gas imports had decreased from 38.5% to 12.9% compared to the same period in 2021.

On February 14th 2024, Russia announced that it was suspending its annual payments to the Arctic Council, the main international cooperation platform for the Arctic states, which includes eight member countries, six permanent participants representing indigenous peoples, and 38 observers.
The move confirmed…

Turbulence in politics and the global economy is aggravating the rough edges of the Green Deal, which as well as being a heavy burden for the industries and energy sectors of individual member states could also become an open route to power for far-right political forces

Few doubt the fact that the EU’s brand colour is green.  At the end…

The energy crisis and inflated gas prices in Europe have laid bare an obvious contradiction in the EU’s previous energy policies and their orientation on spot trade. Not long ago, long-term gas contracts – and not only those linked to Russia – were regarded by the Europeans as a form of bondage, which would not only increase the EU’s dependence on individual suppliers, …