South Africa launching nuclear energy plan

The South African government plans to award contracts to build a fleet of new nuclear power stations to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels

South Africa’s twin-reactor Koeberg nuclear plant
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Power output: Construction of up to eight new reactors, generating total of 9,600 megawatts – will meet 23 percent of South Africa’s energy needs by 2030. First reactor to becommissioned by 2023

Cost estimates: Range from $37 billion to $100 billion, spread over 15 years

Procurement process: Seven countries competing to win reactor contracts – Canada, China, France,Japan, Russia, South Korea and United States

Preferred bidders: To be announced by April 2016. Russia’s state-owned Rosatom seen as front runner due to close historical ties between Moscow and South Africa’s ruling African National Congress

Nuclear expansion: Seeks to address electricity shortages that have caused widespread blackouts in South Africa since 2008

Fossil fuels: Reliance on coal-fired plants expected to fall from current level of more than 85 percentto 65 percent by 2030
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Existing nuclear plant

Nuclear research facility

Uranium mining / milling

Waste storage site

Possible new reactor site
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NAMIBIA

ATLANTIC OCEAN

SOUTH AFRICA Koeberg Duynefontein Cape Town Vaalputs Bantamsklip Thyspunt

LESOTHO Ezulwini-Cooke Vaal River Pelindaba Pretoria Johannesburg KwaZulu-Natal SWAZI-LAND

BOTSWANA

MOZAM-BIQUE

INDIAN OCEAN

300km 200 miles
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Sources: World Nuclear Association, wire agencies

Picture: Wikimedia

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