The Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (Niasa) has “warmly” welcomed Energy and Electricity Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa‘s “significant” announcement that the country is close to launching a programme to build 2 500 MW of new nuclear power capacity in the country. New nuclear was part of the energy mix contained in the country’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023.

“Niasa has consistently advocated for an energy mix which is in line with the developmental needs of the country,” highlighted Niasa deputy president Gaopalelwe Santswere. “[T]he world has embraced nuclear as an important source to achieve net zero [carbon] emissions by 2050. Nuclear is acknowledged as a necessary complementary energy source to renewables as it provides the necessary reliability and grid stability.”

He cited the declaration signed earlier this year by more than 20 countries, undertaking to triple their nuclear generation capacity by the middle of the century, in order to reach the global 2050 target of net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions, and so to limit the global temperature rise to less than 1.5 °C above the preindustrial average. That declaration stated that “new nuclear technologies could occupy a small land footprint and can be sited where needed, partner well with renewable energy sources and have additional flexibilities that support decarbonisation beyond the power sector, including hard-to-abate industrial sectors”.

He also cited the example of the US Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (Advance) Act. This was signed into law by President Joe Biden last year. “This law strengthens our nation’s leadership in civilian nuclear energy and accelerates the deployment of those technologies by providing extra resources and authorities to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, without diminishing the utmost importance of the Commission’s work to protect people, communities and the environment,” affirmed US national climate adviser Ali Zaidi, at the signing of the Advance Act.

Santswere also spotlighted recent US studies, conducted by the Universities of Michigan and Idaho, and the Alward Institute, which examined the feasibility of converting 245 operational coal-fired power plants in that country, to advanced nuclear power plants. They concluded that it was very feasible, as well as being economically viable.

“Policy decision-makers in South Africa should heed these insights and advocate for the gradual conversion of the coal power stations, targeted for decommissioning, into nuclear power plants,” he urged. “This will further ensure preservation of the economic activities within those areas which housed these coal plants, before turning [them] into ghost towns.”

“It is unfortunate that members who sit in the GNU [Government of National Unity] find it appropriate to criticise government policy by resorting [to legal action] to settle old political scores,” he added. “Niasa finds it very strange that members of the GNU warn the Minister against issuing the [Request for Proposals] for 2 500 MW of nuclear power which has undergone the same [National Energy Regulator of South Africa] concurrences and Section 34 Ministerial Determinations processes as renewables, including public participation; this should be seen as being disingenuous and opportunistic from those members opposing the Minister because [they] will deprive the country from abating future loadshedding concerns by planning very early through procuring more despatchable electricity.”