The Department of Energy has denied reports that the first nuclear deal has gone to a close family friend of President Jacob Zuma, while the process has not started.
The department said yesterday the process to build several 9 600MW nuclear power plants would begin after it had issued the request for proposals on September 30.
The country expects to build six to eight nuclear reactors by 2030, with the first power plant expected to go live in 2023.
But anti-nuclear lobby groups have said this was not possible as it takes up to 10 years to commission and build a single nuclear power plant.
Yesterday, the department’s deputy director-general for nuclear energy, Zizamele Mbambo, said the process to build nuclear power plants had not commenced.
Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told Parliament two weeks ago, during question time to ministers in the economics cluster, that the request for proposals will go out next Friday.
This was reiterated by Mbambo yesterday in his dismissal of the reports that a close family friend of Zuma had clinched a R171 million nuclear deal.
“The department reiterates that the procurement process for the new nuclear-build programme of 9 600MW nuclear power has not commenced, but will commence upon the issuance of the request for proposals for the nuclear power, as directed by cabinet,” said Mbambo.
He said the current procurement processes were as a result of feasibility studies done.
The department had listed a number of firms it enlisted to conduct feasibility studies to help the government make an informed decision on the nuclear programme, he said.
Mbambo added that the cabinet had mandated the Department of Energy as the procuring agency for the nuclear-build programme.
“Government remains committed to ensure energy security for the country through the rollout of the nuclear-build programme as an integral part of the energy mix (programme),” he said.
“Government remains committed to ensuring the provision of reliable and sustainable electricity supply, as part of the strategy to mitigate the risk of carbon emissions,” he added.
The department has not confirmed in the past how much it would cost the country to build the six to eight nuclear reactors.
Some lobbyists and experts have estimated it will be in the region of R1 trillion.