Biodiversity assessment for nuclear fuel suppliers
Biodiversity is not only a topic related to our own operations but also something that we address in connection with our supply chain.
Short facts
- Globally
- No specific species
- Mitigate supply chain impacts and risks
- Continuous
For nuclear fuel sourcing, we have included a biodiversity assessment on the uranium mining as part of our Environmental Product Declaration for electricity from nuclear power.
Potential impact on biodiversity is qualitatively described based on available material such as Environmental Impact Assessments, the mining companies’ environmental programmes, information from open databases of the areas of flora and fauna including for example rare species, as well as the effect of land use changes mentioned earlier.
Biodiversity will continue to be an integrated part in the sourcing process of uranium. All Vattenfall’s current and potential uranium suppliers are assessed from a biodiversity risk perspective, and new suppliers are expected to demonstrate how they consider biodiversity and apply the mitigation hierarchy if their operations are located in or near areas with high biodiversity, i.e., nationally appointed areas of high biodiversity importance, areas with vulnerable and threatened species, formally protected areas, etc.
More about biodiversity
Biodiversity and nature protection are a priority at Vattenfall. It is one of the focus areas in our environmental policy and therefore also a central part in our environmental work.
See also
Return of fish and control of invasive species at Ringhals
Ringhals uses seawater from two intake channels to cool its nuclear plant.
New habitats for pool frogs and forest management in Forsmark
SKB’s Forsmark repository will fill a pond that shelters endangered pool frogs.
Quantifying and valuing biodiversity
Measuring biodiversity with a single indicator is a challenge since biodiversity is complex.