Cape Town - South Africa will only carry out a nuclear agreement if it is affordable and in line with procurement policies, Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told Parliament on Tuesday.
In the midst of its worst electricity shortage crisis since 2008, Africa's most developed economy plans to generate 9 600 megawatts of power this year, estimated by analysts to cost as much as $100 billion.
Concern is mounting that agreements to build the nuclear power plants that could be the most expensive procurement in the country's history will be made behind closed doors, without the necessary public scrutiny.
“We are committed to a thorough cost-benefit analysis and the cost-benefit analysis is part of the procurement process. We are not going to compromise our country in any way,” she said.
South Africa runs the continent's only commercial nuclear power plant at Koeberg, near Cape Town.
Joemat-Pettersson was speaking ahead of the Department of Energy briefing parliamentarians on inter-governmental agreements (IGAs) South Africa has signed with China, France, Russia, the United States and South Korea. An agreement with Japan is being finalised.
The IGAs lay the foundation for co-operation, trade and exchange of nuclear technology as well as procurement with each country has shown interest in participating in South Africa's nuclear build programme.
REUTERS