Ufa, Russia - Suggestions that Russia is the frontrunner in a bidding process to build a new nuclear plant in South Africa are untrue, deputy director-general for nuclear energy Zizamele Mbambo said on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Russia on Thursday.
“No bidder has been chosen as the process has not begun,” said Mbambo.
Speaking to the media in an impromptu interview outside the main venue for the 2015 BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) /SCO (Shangai Cooperation Organisation) summit in the Ural city of Ufa, Mbambo explained government’s plans for nuclear energy.
Mbambo said the department envisioned the end of 2015 as the conclusion of the bidding process to appoint a strategic partner or partners in expanding South Africa’s nuclear power capacity.
All potential bidders had been invited by government to apply for such a strategic partnership.
Among the invited were Russia, China, South Korea, the United States, Canada, and France.
“All of these countries have the potential,” said Mbambo.
Three of the potential partners - Russia, China, and France - have undertaken agreements with South Africa which would see the African country send students abroad to study subjects related to nuclear energy.
The most recent of these was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between BRICS members Russia and South Africa on Wednesday.
Mbambo added that government and national power utility Eskom had conducted sufficient economic and environmental impact studies to proceed with a new nuclear plant.
He said that the “nuclear option was the most viable for South Africa”, which was rich in uranium.
South Africa’s sole nuclear plant in the Western Cape, Koeberg, was cited by Mbambo to further government’s argument.
“Koeberg has been operating safely and sufficiently for more than 30 years,” he said.
The Western Cape had been identified as a possible location for another plant. The Eastern Cape had also emerged as a possibility following Eskom’s environmental impact studies.
Once the strategic partner or partners had been chosen, a decision would be made in terms of how many plants South Africa would recieve.
“In terms of generation three and three plus, there could be six to eight power plants,” said Mbambo.
“That will be decided on when strategic partners are selected.”
ANA