SA will continue with nuclear procurement – ‘because it will create jobs’: report

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Energy Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has confirmed that South Africa will continue with nuclear procurement despite Eskom currently having an energy surplus and recent findings that it would be substantially more expensive than renewable energy options.

In an answer to a parliamentary question yesterday, Kubayi highlighted that nuclear plans formed part of government’s national development plan, reports Bleed.

Specifically, Kubayi noted that nuclear procurement would continue in South Africa as a means of addressing ongoing socio-economic issues as well and as an added means of job creation.

The report noted that the decision to continue with nuclear power in South Africa flies in the face of a number of recent decisions including the April 2017 High Court decision which ruled that government had to set aside the country’s current procurement deals with Russia, the US and Korea as it was not “constitutionally sound administrative decision-making”.

The decision also follow an announcement by Eskom itself stating that it was currently generating surplus power to the current requirements and a CSIR report which suggested completely scrapping nuclear in South Africa due to the high cost.