South Africa Sees Viable Potential In Nuclear Energy

Eastern Cape economic development MEC Mcebisi Jonas, said the nuclear industry provides economic benefits to the country as South Africa had a long nuclear history and was home to a nuclear power station in the Western Cape.

“There is also a research and production facility in the North West province which is producing medical products to annually treat millions of patients and many other applications of nuclear energy,” Jonas said in his speech at  Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (Niasa) conference in Port Elizabeth.

“We need to highlight these and showcase the benefit that people are already deriving from our nuclear energy.”

He said he hoped the conference would draw up a practical and realistic plan for the future.

“If at the end of this convention we have at least formulated the right questions then, I think that we will have a sound footing for the road ahead.”

Riding on the back of Jonas position, Department of Energy director-general Nelisiwe Magubane In her address posits that Nuclear power is more of a necessity than an option.

"Given our climate change commitments and the fact that some of the coal-fired power stations will retire around 2022 and require replacement, nuclear power is becoming more of a necessity than an option," Magubane said on Wednesday.

Magubane at the Niasa conference said the Department of Energy was "of the view that nuclear energy can be deployed successfully, built on time and budget".

She noted that the country's Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) for 2010 to 2030, a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand, envisaged 9 600 MW of additional nuclear capacity by 2030.

South Africa’s Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) for 2010 to 2030, a 20-year projection on electricity supply and demand, envisaged 9 600 MW of additional nuclear capacity by 2030.

The department is busy reviewing the IRP 2010-2030. At the same time, the department has recently obtained Cabinet approval to publish its Integrated Energy Plan, which will serve as a guide for future energy infrastructure investment and policy. Public consultations on the plan are scheduled to begin next month, SAPA reported.

"Preliminary results indicate that if we intend to reduce our carbon footprint and also have vibrant economic growth, nuclear energy will be part of the solution," Magubane said.

"Resistance to nuclear energy has been part and parcel of this industry. We know that the lack of information and knowledge is a preliminary source of fear in any setting, and the nuclear sector is not exempt from this."

South Africa's Koeberg nuclear plant, built more than 25 years ago, is the only nuclear power-generating facility on the African continent.

"To assist with obtaining good financing and bringing in operational experience, we are looking at various ownership options for the nuclear power plants, such as an investor or equity partner to join forces with Eskom in the nuclear new build," Magubane said.