Government is planning to procure 2,500 Megawatts (MW) of nuclear energy to the grid.
This emerged at the recently held, Nuclear Seminar, held in Gauteng, on Thursday.
Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the Energy and Electricity Minister, said at the Seminar, “we’re putting together an expert team that will advise in relation to the pace and scale that we can afford. Once we answer that question, then we will be able to articulate on the public consultation process, what the timelines are and then simultaneously we’ll begin to work out a procurement framework.”
Ramokgopa also said Government is tapping into numerous sources, in persuit of energy security.
“We reserve the right to determine what technologies and fuel sources we are going to use. Nothing is off the table as far as this Ministry is concerned.”
The Seminar was organized by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy at River Meadow Manor in Irene, Pretoria.
It was attended by various stakeholders, including the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Professor Bismark Tyobeka.
Tyobeka expressed particular interest in the revival of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor and the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). He questioned whether South Africa should rely on proven nuclear technology or seek innovative ways of dealing with nuclear waste management.
Also speaking at the Summit, was Samantha Graham-Mare, the Deputy Minister of Energy and Electricity, who said South Africa remains committed to fulfilling the objectives of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, while refining the IRP 2023.
Graham-Mare said “the IRP sets out a requirement of 2 500MW of nuclear power to ensure the stability of South Africa’s power grid. In turn, driving the reindustrialisation of our economy and the promise of economic growth that leads to job creation.”
She also said there is global acceptance of nuclear energy as an integral part of the solution to mitigate the impact of climate change.
“We therefore need to work together to ensure that nuclear energy becomes an important part of the Just Energy Transition.
It is clear that nuclear is a critical component of South Africa’s energy mix, offering a low carbon, reliable source of energy that can contribute significantly to the country’s energy security and climate goals” she said.
This she said, therefore, requires negative perceptions around nuclear energy, to be changed.
Picture: Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof Bismark Tyobeka (left), hosted a panel of discussion, titled “Future Technology Prospects and their Strategic Importance.”
Dr Ramokgopa (Minister) , Samantha Graham-Mare (Deputy Minister), Dan Marokane (Eskom CEO) and Koeberg Manager