(3 minutes read)
· South Africa decided to install a new nuclear capacity to solve its power problems, notwithstanding huge capital and gestation period involved in setting up such units
· A tender may be put out by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy by March next year
· The National Energy Regulator has already approved the procurement of 2,500 MW of nuclear power
· But this news did not go well with the activists and experts
South Africa decided to install a new nuclear capacity to solve its power problems, notwithstanding huge capital and gestation period involved in setting up such units. A tender may be put out by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy by March next year. The National Energy Regulator has already approved the procurement of 2,500 MW of nuclear power. But this news did not go well with the activists and experts.
They find no merit in pushing nuclear energy to the forefront, while there are options to tap alternative energy. They feel that nuclear procurement would be a wasteful and costly diversion. They are of the view that the country should instead implement its electricity supply plan, which prioritizes generating 33 GW of power mostly from solar and wind by 2030 since such projects can be implemented at competitive prices and a fairly quicker timeframe.
South Africa’s first commercial nuclear power reactor started operating in 1984. But its nuclear industry can hark back a history since 1940 when the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC) was formed. , With the focus on clean and safe energy, priority on nuclear energy was put on the backburner. But of late, the government is harping on commitment to the future of nuclear energy, mainly triggered by frequent shortages. In October 2019, the country outlined plans to build 1 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2030. It has also decided to extend the operating lifetime of its existing plant by 20 years.
