Executive Summary

The Federal Office of Energy published on April 20, 2026 the inventory figures for Swiss nuclear materials abroad for the year 2025. According to the Nuclear Energy Act and Safeguards Ordinance, all nuclear material inventories abroad in Swiss ownership must be reported annually to the supervisory authorities. The nuclear materials are stored in facilities in Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain, and the USA. Changes compared to the previous year result from procurement and processing processes for fuel elements.

Persons

  • Federal Office of Energy (Authority; Responsible for publication)

Topics

  • Nuclear energy
  • Safeguards and control
  • International storage facilities
  • Fuel procurement

Clarus Lead

The publication underscores Switzerland's regular transparency obligation in the field of nuclear material. The decentralized storage in six countries reflects both international supply structures and the requirements of nuclear power plants for fuel availability.

Detailed Summary

The annual reporting of nuclear material inventories is a compliance requirement arising from two legal instruments: the Nuclear Energy Act at the national level and the Safeguards Ordinance, which implements international control requirements. This regulation ensures the traceability and control of nuclear material across national borders.

The geographic distribution of inventories across six European and North American locations corresponds to established supply chains of the Swiss nuclear industry. Fluctuations between years are primarily driven by operational factors: uranium procurement on the world market and conversion to fuel elements follow economic cycles and the actual energy demand of operators.

Key Findings

  • Annual reporting obligation for Swiss nuclear material inventories abroad is legally anchored
  • Inventories are stored in six countries (Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, Great Britain, USA)
  • Inventory changes follow economic and operational requirements of nuclear facility operators

Critical Questions

  1. Data Quality: What verification mechanisms ensure that the inventory figures reported by operators are correct and complete?

  2. Transparency: Are the detailed inventory figures (appendix table) made publicly accessible, or do they remain restricted to authorities and operators?

  3. Security Risks: What controls exist at storage facilities in third countries to prevent theft or unauthorized use?

  4. International Coordination: Is the report submitted to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in parallel with the national report?

  5. Inventory Dynamics: What specific change occurred in 2025 compared to 2024, and what economic factors were decisive?

  6. Storage Standards: Do security standards differ between the six countries, and how is uniformity ensured?

Source References

Primary Source: Federal Office of Energy – Inventory Figures Swiss Nuclear Material Inventories Abroad 2025 (20.04.2026) https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/dBNIa8PRbgHx

Verification Status: ✓ 20.04.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 20.04.2026