The change in the geopolitical order, disrupted by the invasion of Ukraine, has exposed the weaknesses of the German economic model. The German model, points out Wolfgang Münchau in one of his analyses for Eurointelligence, hinges on three ingredients: cost competitiveness, technological leadership in its industry and geopolitical stability, and ‘all of them are gone,’ he adds. On the one hand, the cut-off of Russian gas — which accounted for more than 50% of the gas consumed in Germany — has impacted the electro-intensive industry, forcing businesses like the chemical company Lanxess to restructure their business and close plants.
It must be said that while the French did do well to choose nuclear, their fuel comes in large part from colonial resource extraction arrangements in Africa. Hardly secure, although much more reliable and environmentally friendly than coal or gas.
Nuclear fuel is so energy dense that it doesn’t really matter where it comes from. You only use a teaspoon per person per year.
That said, Uranium is a commodity and the biggest producers are Kazachstan, Canada and Australia.
France subsidizing their colonies to maintain influence is a typical French thing. They also buy sugar from their old colonies at inflated prices.
