Watch the video: Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa unpacks key developments in SA’s Nuclear Energy Program
- The South African government revives its mothballed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor programme and plans 5.2GW of new nuclear power.
- After spending over US$1.3 billion, with the South African government funding about 80%, the project was put into “care and maintenance” in 2010 because it could not find private investors or customers.
- Ramokgopa argues that nuclear power is essential for ensuring long-term baseload supply, supporting African industrialisation, and unlocking critical minerals that underpin global decarbonisation efforts.
South Africa’s nuclear energy sector is entering a new phase of expansion and controversy as government pushes forward with fresh nuclear build plans, the revival of advanced reactor research, and extended operation of the country’s only existing nuclear power plant — Koeberg. The developments have drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and some community members, even as Eskom restores additional generation capacity to the national grid.
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Minister of Energy and Electricity Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced that Cabinet has lifted the “care and maintenance” status of the long-stalled Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project, a move he says will position South Africa “back to its rightful place” as a global leader in nuclear technology.
“South Africa is going back to its rightful place as a major player on the nuclear fuel cycle,” Ramokgopa said during a briefing on Sunday. He maintained that reviving PBMR research will open both industrial and commercial opportunities as global demand for small modular reactors (SMRs) accelerates.
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“There’s over 80% of SMRs at differing stages of development, and only one country currently supplies the high-temperature reactor fuel they require. We are going to be another player in that space,” he said.
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Ramokgopa emphasised that the revival would not rely on state funds: “Some of the biggest investors in SMR technology are playing in the space of data centres. We are not going to burden the fiscus… private investment will ensure progress.”
Last month, the Minister released the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025, outlining a target of 5200MW of new nuclear capacity, with the first 2400MW to be built at Duynefontein next to Koeberg, a site that has now received full environmental approval. Additional sites in the Eastern Cape are also under review.
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The renewed nuclear push comes as the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) grants Koeberg Unit 2 a 20-year licence extension, despite strong objections from the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI). The organisation called the decision a “reckless gamble with public safety” and a “travesty of good governance.”
SAFCEI says critical safety tests and data remain incomplete, including overdue containment assessments. Executive Director Francesca de Gasparis argued that the NNR approved the extension “without the legally required proof of safety.”
“Koeberg was behind on so many critical safety requirements, from incomplete containment structure tests and missing monitoring data to the absence of an updated emergency plan for Cape Town,” De Gasparis said. “Safety must be proven, not assumed.”
Community members echoed these concerns, saying they have never seen evacuation plans or participated in a single emergency drill in decades of living near the plant. Residents expressed frustration over unanswered questions regarding muster points, traffic management, and support for the elderly in an emergency.
Amid the regulatory dispute, Eskom has reconnected Koeberg Unit 1 to the national grid, restoring 930MW of capacity following a major outage caused by a failed isolation/block valve. The unit has been offline since September last year, shortly after commissioning its new steam generator.
Fuel loading began in September 2025, followed by commissioning activities leading to successful synchronisation. Eskom also recently applied for regulatory approval to build a new spent fuel cask storage facility on-site, a move that has raised concerns given the ageing 40-year-old containment structures. Both Unit 1 and Unit 2 are now online, generating more than 1,860MW, about 5% of Eskom’s total electricity output.
While government and Eskom promote nuclear as essential for clean baseload capacity and energy security, environmental groups and some communities warn that South Africa is moving too quickly without addressing key safety and governance issues.
Ramokgopa remains steadfast. He says reviving PBMR technology and expanding the nuclear fleet will strengthen research, create high-skilled jobs, boost medical isotope production, and ensure South Africa is not “left behind” in the global energy transition. SAFCEI, however, insists the country is risking public safety and diverting resources from cheaper, faster renewable alternatives.
Related news: Eskom assures that safety structural steps have not been skipped at Koeberg
SAFCEI and Earthlife Africa stopped President Zuma’s nuclear build program by successfully taking the government to court in 2017. They argued the process lacked sufficient public participation and was unconstitutional. The court agreed, halting the “illegal and unconstitutional” deal with Russia.
With billions in investment at stake and a sharply divided public, Ramokgopa’s nuclear plans are likely to face legal challenges.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
