Nuclear fuel alliance formed by UK, US, Canada, Japan and France

The UK, US, Canada, Japan and France have formed an alliance to develop shared supply chains for nuclear fuel.

The announcement, made at G7 talks in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo, is aimed at pushing Russia out of the international nuclear energy market, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said.

The five countries will use their civil nuclear power sectors to undermine Russia’s grip on supply chains, cutting off another means for President Vladimir Putin to fund his invasion of Ukraine.

UK Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The UK has been at the very heart of global efforts to support Ukraine, defeat Putin and ensure neither him nor anyone like him can ever think they can hold the world to ransom over their energy again.

“This is the next vital step, uniting with other countries to show Putin that Russia isn’t welcome anymore, and in shoring up our global energy security by using a reliable international supply of nuclear fuel from safe, secure sources.”

The agreement will also strengthen the UK’s nuclear energy sector, helping it on the path to energy independency and reducing electricity bills, the Energy Department said.

The fuel is used to operate nuclear power stations which provide around 15 per cent of the UK’s electricity supply, with an aim for it to reach 25 per cent by 2050.

Ministers from the Group of Seven rich nations were finishing two days of meetings on climate, energy and environmental policy on Sunday.

They set new collective targets for the use of offshore wind and solar energy and agreed to accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels, particularly coal.