Germany reportedly plans to buy RWE and E.ON stakes in Urenco

Germany is reportedly preparing to buy the stakes held by energy companies RWE and E.ON in uranium enrichment firm Urenco, a move that would give the state a share in a strategically important nuclear supplier. The plan was reported by German newspaper WELT, citing people familiar with the matter.

A separate report by Deutsche Textservice said a €4 billion item added to the draft 2027 budget was intended to fund the purchase. But the finance and economy ministries did not say which investment the money was for, and RWE and E.ON declined to comment on market rumours. The budget item has not been publicly confirmed as funding for an Urenco deal.

RWE and E.ON together own one-third of Urenco. The Netherlands and the UK each hold another third. The company, based in Almelo, supplies enriched uranium used in nuclear power. Its strategic importance has grown as Europe seeks to reduce dependence on Russian enriched uranium, according to ANP.

WELT’s accessible report states that the German government plans to acquire the two companies’ shares, but its full account is behind a subscription barrier. The €4 billion figure and the explanation for the budget item come from a separate report that also attributes the proposed purchase to WELT, rather than from independent confirmation.