SA and France to sign nuclear deal?
Who will solve South Africa’s energy supply needs, and what form of energy are we expected to pursue?
The Department of Energy had first announced that it would be concluding a deal with Russian nuclear vendor Rosatom to build nuclear power stations in South Africa. This announcement was then followed by denials from the Energy Department claiming that wording in the statements issued both by the Energy Department and Rosatom to be incorrect, and the deal was “lost in translation”.
Since then the Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said on the 10 October 2014, that Zuma had granted Energy minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson authority under section 231 of the Constitution, to sign a nuclear energy co-operation with the French. Details between South Africa and the French would be discussed.
Although it has been recommended in the Integrated Resource Plan to investigate possible cheaper alternatives in energy supply the Energy Department deputy director-general for nuclear, Zizamele Mbambo, said last week that procurement of 9.6GW of nuclear energy would definitely go ahead.
