SOUTH Africa is “ready” to develop nuclear energy, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) forum held being held in St Petersburg, Russia, heard on Wednesday.
IAEA deputy director-general for nuclear energy Alexander Bychkov said he believed South Africa was “fully capable” of implementing a nuclear programme.
“There are no capacity problems in South Africa. It is a fast-growing economy. It is up to the government to decide how to implement nuclear energy. It appears interested in using the energy source to develop its people.”
Luc Oursel, CEO of French nuclear energy multinational Avera, said his company and many others in the industry globally would be interested in working with South Africa.
“South Africa is seen as a country (which) nuclear energy companies can develop long-term relationships with. Areva is awaiting a plan from South Africa. We want to know how we can play a role in the programme they develop. We want to help them to procure the necessary materials.”
Energy officials in South Africa’s government have expressed a commitment to developing nuclear energy, amid scepticism about the cost of the venture.
In April, Department of Energy director-general Nelisiwe Magubane told Parliament that South Africa’s nuclear plans were non-negotiable and were backed by the National Development Plan, which some commentators have disputed.
“The only thing(s) that we are waiting for are the procurement processes and how (they are) going to be funded,” Ms Magubane said.
In March, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said a nuclear industry needed to be established in South Africa.
Ms Magubane said South Africa had to build three nuclear stations to generate a total of 9,600MW, with the first units to come on line in 2025.
Nuclear costs are rising. Given advanced, safer technologies, input costs sit at $7,000/kW compared with $5,000/kW back in 2010.
Nuclear energy stations can be expensive to build and maintain but South Africa is struggling to meet energy demand and remains heavily reliant on coal as its energy source, a National Planning Commission report found earlier this year.
If liquefied natural gas became an energy source of choice, nuclear energy could be delayed for years, while funds were diverted to developing infrastructure to mine the gas.
In addition, the proposed fracking of shale gas in the Karoo has been met with outrage over fears it would damage the environment and require lots of water. South Africa already suffers water scarcity. – bdaylive.co.za
• Anderson was invited to the IAEA international forum and Atomexpo held in St Petersburg, Russia, by Russian state nuclear energy firm Rosatom.