CHINA and South Africa have sealed three nuclear pacts, as the contest intensifies for contracts to build new atomic plants in Africa’s second-largest economy.
South Africa plans to install 9 600 megawatts of nuclear energy by 2030 and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding, Russia’s Rosatom and France’s Areva, are among companies that have expressed interest in tendering bids.
On November 7, the South African and Chinese governments signed a nuclear co-operation agreement, a precursor to procurement.
The new accords, signed in Beijing yesterday during a state visit by President Jacob Zuma, include a nuclear project financing framework between China’s Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and Standard Bank Group. Two Chinese universities also agreed to provide South Africa with nuclear training.
“South Africa is the comprehensive and strategic partner of China in Africa,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the signing ceremony.
“The China-South Africa relationship is standing at a new historical point. We should look to the future and work hand in hand, to deepen co-operation in all fields.”
South Africa has also signed, or plans to sign, nuclear co-operation with Russia, France, Canada, Brazil and Japan. It has yet to call for bids to build the new plants, which it says are needed to address power shortages – a consequence of decades of underinvestment in generation. – Bloomberg