EU nuclear agency Euratom said on Tuesday (1 August) it saw no immediate risk to nuclear power production in Europe should Niger cut its deliveries of uranium.

Euratom told Reuters that Niger – a West African country where a junta has seized power from president Mohamed Bazoum – was the second-largest supplier of natural uranium to the European Union last year.

It said utilities in the bloc had enough uranium inventories to fuel its nuclear power plants for three years.

“If imports from Niger are being cut, there are no immediate risks to the security of nuclear power production in the short term,” Euratom said.