EU Energy Crisis: Rosatom Blames Nuclear Policy Flaws

The head of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom has attributed Europe’s ongoing energy crisis to decades of flawed policy decisions and an oversimplified approach to energy transition, citing the recent disruption caused by attacks on Iran as a exposing event.

In an exclusive interview with RT, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev stated that the crisis “did not take shape over just a few years but over decades,” blaming it on “a series of consistent mistakes” and “a crude and simplistic understanding of energy transition and environmentally friendly energy.” He argued that an “unjustified rejection” of natural gas and restrictive policies toward nuclear power have left the bloc vulnerable.

Likhachev’s comments follow the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and struck oil and gas infrastructure, amplifying existing price pressures and supply concerns for European consumers. The conflict highlighted the region’s critical role in global energy security.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has accelerated efforts to end its reliance on Russian pipeline gas, targeting a full cutoff by 2027. This pivot involved boosting imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from global markets and fast-tracking renewable energy projects. However, the bloc’s nuclear energy landscape remains deeply divided.

Austria and Denmark have long banned nuclear power. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, completed its nuclear phase-out in April 2023. Belgium and Spain have implemented phase-out policies or reactor lifetime limits. Conversely, France, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Finland maintain significant reliance on nuclear for electricity. Rosatom, which faces EU sanctions over the Ukraine war, continues cooperation with Hungary on the Paks II nuclear plant project.

Likhachev contends that a renewed commitment to nuclear power is essential for European energy security, positioning Rosatom as a key potential partner. His analysis frames the current difficulties as a direct result of political choices that dismissed baseload low-carbon sources like nuclear and gas prematurely.

The remarks underscore a persistent policy rift within the EU regarding the role of nuclear energy in achieving climate goals and supply stability. While the European Commission now classifies nuclear as a sustainable energy source, national resistance in several member states complicates a unified strategy. The debate over whether to revive or expand nuclear capacity is likely to intensify as the bloc seeks to balance decarbonization targets with energy affordability and independence.