The NGO Greenpeace on Tuesday put the French groups EDF and Orano on notice to cease their commercial activities in the nuclear industry in Russia, in particular with the public giant Rosatom, following the invasion of Ukraine.
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"
We give you formal notice to cease as soon as possible all business and commercial relations in the nuclear sector contributing to the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the Russian State
", writes Greenpeace in separate letters, dated Monday and made public on Tuesday, addressed to the leaders of the two companies.
The NGO lists a series of contracts linking EDF and its subsidiaries to Rosatom, in various fields: fuels, construction and operation of reactors.
On the Orano side, the former Areva, Greenpeace notes other contracts concerning radioactive waste and the reprocessing of uranium.
EDF and Orano "accomplices", according to Greenpeace
The energy sector is currently not affected by European sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Greenpeace however refers to the "
vigilance measures
" provided for in the Commercial Code, which obliges companies to prevent violations of human rights or the environment.
"
Obviously, the Russian state's war on Ukraine - in violation of human rights and international humanitarian law - as well as the Russian seizure of Ukrainian nuclear power plants with the complicity of Rosatom, violate all safety rules and nuclear security at international, European and national level,
” Greenpeace said in its letters.
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EDF and Orano are "
accomplices
" in these violations by not ending their commercial relations, according to the NGO.
“
We can only regret the cynicism of Greenpeace which exploits the drama that the Ukrainian people are living to promote their anti-nuclear ideology
”, reacted a spokesperson for Orano, who had not yet had access to the formal notice.
“
The French and European authorities have decided on targeted and potentially scalable sanctions.
We are strictly applying the measures decided by the authorities and will continue to do so
,” he added.
EDF was unable to comment immediately.
