Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson
Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told lawmakers on Wednesday that the upcoming nuclear request for proposal (RFP) would enable South Africa to secure the “binding commercial and financial information” required to allow Cabinet to take a final decision on how best to implement the proposed build programme.
“This would inform the price, affordability, pace and scale of this programme,” she said during her Budget Vote address in Parliament, adding that it would also confirm market appetite for the programme.
South Africa intended adding 9 600 MW of new nuclear capacity in addition to the 1 800 MW Koeberg facility, in the Western Cape. However, the programme faced stiff opposition, with critics arguing that the country had lower-cost alternatives to meet its future electricity needs.
Joemat-Pettersson said the nuclear expansion programme was necessary to meet the country’s baseload requirements, as well as commitments to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
She added that the nuclear procurement process stood at a “cross-roads” following detailed technical investigations carried out in line with the National Development Plan’s call for a thorough assessment ahead of any decision to proceed.
“These were considered by Cabinet, which has decided to allow the Department of Energy to issue a RFP to confirm the market appetite for the nuclear programme.”
She promised that the process was “above board and free of any potential for corruption”.
“We will not rush the process and will meet all the necessary national and international requirements for the new build process, led by the guidance, in the main, of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”