New build Nuclear energy in South Africa

1 new build

1.1 criticism

1.1.1 legality
1.1.2 costs

new build

















koeberg in red other potential nuclear sites in blue

the 2010 integrated resource plan (irp) envisages building 9,600 mwe of new nuclear power capacity building between 6 , 8 new nuclear reactors 2030, cost r1 trillion. 5 countries, south korea, france, russia, us, , china have bid supply reactors. of 2015, russia s rosatom , chinese companies front runners supply new nuclear plants due commitments finance builds.

in 2008 max lee, ceo of eskom, announced eskom plans build 20 gw of nuclear power 2025, first station of completed 2017. however, investment decision go ahead not made. until 2010, south africa had expansion policy based upon pebble bed modular reactor (pbmr) government financing withdrawn because of missed deadlines , lack of customers. several groups, including earthlife africa , koeberg alert, had opposed these plans.

in 2016, updated draft irp published set lower , slower nuclear target, due lower demand projections , increased capital cost. updated irp envisaged first new nuclear power plant need online 2041. energy minister tina joemat-pettersson said nuclear non-negotiable sa because country lacks adequate water support coal-fired power generation. however, energy experts believe south africa not need energy new nuclear power plant generate can , should make use of on renewables such solar , wind, of south africa positioned take advantage.

criticism

there has been concern cost of endeavour, possibility corruption, due lack of transparency in procurement processes , disregard of civic society. president jacob zuma nevertheless pushed ahead plans secure nuclear power.

legality

following public protector s state of capture report, implicated him , jacob zuma in peddling of state patronage, brian molefe resigned position executive chief of eskom on 1 january, 2017. however, analysts noted corruption @ eksom deep-rooted , molefe s resignation not resolve nuclear question. in april, 2017, eskom requested treasury department waive procurement regulations new nuclear plants, claiming eskom had done lot of work prior , these efforts adequate. democratic alliance objected on grounds embark state on single biggest public procurement without assessing associated risks , consequences sa’s economy .

on 26 april, 2017, following legal application earthlife africa , southern african faith communities environment institute, western cape high court declared south african government s new nuclear procurement processes had been unlawful because had not followed due processes. court noted national energy regulator, parliament, , energy minister must involved in process. of subsequent existing contracts russia, us, , south korea therefore found void.

costs

the r1 trillion cost of new nuclear project has played part in ratings downgrades international credit ratings agencies.

finance minister pravin gordhan, opposed new nuclear on grounds of steep cost, replaced malusi gigaba in march, 2017. gigaba responsible filling vacancy of chief procurement officer @ treasury, make decisions procurement processes regarding new nuclear project.