Johannesburg - The government’s controversial R1-trillion nuclear programme is getting under way in earnest, with the tender process to be opened in the coming days.
The state’s intention is to allow for the start of construction of the first nuclear power plant in 2017.
While the Department of Energy did not commit to the date, it has confirmed the bidding process will start next month.
This comes as President Jacob Zuma on Sunday appointed former Eskom engineer and senior manager Silas Mzingeli Zimu as his special adviser on energy.
Deputy director-general for nuclear energy Zizamele Mbambo said construction would start in two years.
“Once we have selected the bidder, those details will be firmed up with the bidder,” he said.
He said nuclear was part of the energy-mix programme that the government was pursuing.
The costing of the nuclear project would be known in due course.
While figures have been bandied about, the government has not yet confirmed if indeed the six to eight power plants would cost R1-trillion.
Mbambo said the funding of the project would be determined by the studies they have done.
He pointed out that they would wait for the bidding process to start, and allow bidding countries to name their price before settling for the best deal.
“When we planned for the nuclear programme, we set up technical sub-working groups. There were six sub-working groups involving skilled government officials working with industry experts,” Mbambo said.
He added that these officials and experts looked at all aspects, including costing and financing.
On the actual cost of the project, Mbambo said they had done some work and found that it was financeable.
Critics have argued that the nuclear project was too expensive and would cripple the state.
But Mbambo said it would be financed properly. “The work has been completed in terms of developing the financing model.”
Political Bureau