- In a meeting yesterday, South Africa’s energy regulator, NERSA, has approved the government’s plans to procure 2500MW capacity from nuclear technology.
- This confirms that new build nuclear is firmly back on the table in South Africa.
Last month South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) gave notice that it will convene a public hearing relating to the Nuclear Installation Site License (NISL) application received from Eskom to install a new installation on the rocky stretch of coast about 12kms from Cape Saint Francis, west of Thysbaai beach, south-east of Oyster Bay. Read more
Eskom applied for two NISL in 2016, for Thyspunt and Duynefontyn, just north of the existing Koeberg Nuclear Power Station north of Melkbosstrand. This was in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Policy of 2008, which requires it as owner and operator of the plants to ensure sites identified for future plants are available and authorised.
Related news: UCT weighs in on nuclear debate citing cost, fewer jobs and longer to build than other technologies
Site authorisation requires approval by two regulators, the NNR and the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF). These are two different procedures with different criteria and the end result are independent of each other.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
