South Africa: “Go nuclear or go down”

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South Africa: “Go nuclear or go down”

10:06 CAT | 17 Feb 2016

In file Club of Mozambique / Currently, the country gets 1840MW from its Koeberg nuclear power station, just 6.5% of the grid's electricity needs.

South Africa needs nuclear power to solve its energy crisis and prevent further constraints on the country’s economy.

At least that’s the view of an all pro-nuclear panel that discussed the future of South Africa’s energy sector at the Africa Energy Indaba in Sandton yesterday.

Shane Pereira, business development manager at Lesedi Nuclear Services, said current production capacity would not meet the country’s future economic needs, even with Kusile and Medupi power stations completely online.

“The ageing coal fleet needs to be substituted. You need to substitute it with base load. Nuclear is the only real option. Even if there were no CO2-related reduction obligations, coal is not a suitable option for South Africa.

“That solution lies with nuclear power,” he said.

President Jacob Zuma announced last week that South Africa was planning to get more than 9000MW of electricity from nuclear energy. Currently, the country gets 1840MW from its Koeberg nuclear power station, just 6.5% of the grid’s electricity needs.

Yves Guenon, chairman of the Areva, a French global leader in nuclear energy, said the problem with nuclear power was the time it took to commission a plant.

“Nuclear process is not a short-time process. Even if you select a vendor by the end of the year it will take time before your first unit comes online”.

“We have to go through a full process of licensing. This could mean you will have your first power in 2035,” said Guenon.

Source: Times Live