South Africa to build nuclear plant to solve energy crisis: summary

What we know

• South Africa is seeking to bid for an extra 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power by March amidst power outages the country has been plunged into in recent times.
• The country’s only nuclear power station, which is also the only one in Africa, the Koeberg plant near Cape Town is working at half capacity, leaving businesses to suffer the brunt of black outs sometimes even up to ten (10) hours in a day.
• The procurement being sought by the country is expected to start operating in 2032 or 2033 at a scale and pace it can afford.
• South Africa’s 9,600 MW nuclear deal with Russia which was initiated during former president Jacob Zuma’s administration was halted after a court challenge in 2017.
• The current nuclear plant with about 1,900 MW provides 5% of the country’s energy out of the installed capacity of 46,000 MW. Meanwhile, government is awaiting regulatory approval to an application for a 20-year extension of Koeberg’s operations pending its license expiration in July 2024.

What they said

Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa expressed confidence in the prospects of securing preffered bidders. “We are excited about the prospects and we are confident about our ability to ensure that within a reasonable period of time we are able (to announce) preferred bidders,” she said. Senior Energy Ministry official Zizamele Mbambo on her part noted that South Africa experts to commission the first unit of the 2,500 MW nuclear plant in a decade. “We must issue an open and transparent tender that makes sure there is cost competitiveness," Mbambo was quoted by Reuters.