Germany eyes buying RWE and E.ON stake in Urenco

The German government plans to acquire RWE and E.ON's combined one-third stake in uranium enrichment company Urenco, two German newspapers reported on Friday, after 4 billion euros for energy company stakes appeared in a federal budget document.

Why it matters: Urenco is one of the world's largest uranium enrichment companies and is expected to produce highly enriched uranium for British submarines, so Berlin buying the German utilities out would keep the stake in government hands as its military role grows.

Data as of Reuters report of November 13, 2026, read in full in syndication, summarising Die Welt and Sueddeutsche Zeitung reporting. The 4 billion euro budget line is documented, but its link to Urenco is the newspapers' reading of it; the German energy ministry, Urenco, RWE and E.ON all declined to comment. Developing item.

The German government plans to acquire power utilities RWE and E.ON’s combined one-third stake in London-based uranium enrichment company Urenco, Die Welt and Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday. Britain and the Netherlands each own a third of Urenco, one of the world’s largest enrichment companies, and Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing people within Germany’s coalition, that the group is expected to produce highly enriched uranium for British submarines.

The reports follow expenditure of 4 billion euros (4.4 billion dollars) appearing in a federal budget document prepared for lawmakers on Thursday, earmarked for the acquisition and holding of stakes in energy companies with no further detail given. Die Welt, which first reported the plans citing insiders, said both utilities aim to divest their stakes following Germany’s nuclear phase-out and as Urenco becomes more active in the military nuclear sector; the German energy ministry, Urenco, RWE and E.ON declined to comment.

Germany eyes buying RWE and E.ON stake in Urenco

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