South Africa one step closer to a new 4,000MW nuclear plant

Eskom has been granted an Environmental Authorisation to construct and operate a 4000MW nuclear power station in Duynefontein, a few kilometres from the Koeberg plant in the Western Cape.

This follows the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dion George, upholding an initial decision made in October 2017.

Several groups, including Greenpeace Africa and Koeberg Alert Alliance, appealed the 2017 decision. However, these appeals have been dismissed under section 43(6) of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

“In considering these appeals, I have carefully reviewed the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAr), as well as the independent peer review conducted in respect of the project,” George said.

“In the end, my decision was made in respect of the principles of the NEMA, and with full appreciation of the environmental, social and economic considerations involved.”

Despite the Minister upholding the 2017 decision, Eskom still needs to clear some hurdles before it can begin constructing a nuclear power station.

“The granting of an Environmental Authorisation does not exempt an applicant from complying with any other applicable legal requirements or obtaining permits from other competent authorities,” George said.

This includes several statutory authorisations, such as obtaining a Nuclear Installation Licence from the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and gaining approval from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa).

Eskom will also need to obtain water use licences from the Department of Water and Sanitation and other relevant approvals, such as those from the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment supports South Africa’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future where inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction are central,” George said.

Earlier this year, the Sunday Times reported that Energy and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the country was looking for nuclear experts to assist in affordably building nuclear capacity.

The Minister said that if the country were to consult foreign experts, they would most likely be in the US, China, Russia, France, and North Korea.

He told the Times that this was part of a plan to restore credibility in the country’s nuclear build programme, which had been lost due to concerns over procurement and administration.

To restore this credibility, he says the build programme would need a capacity of at least 10GW, which the country would need R12 billion to register.

As for building nuclear capacity at this scale, Ramokgopa said it would cost “at least R60 billion,” which would “never come from the fiscus.”