South Africa plans to revive its small-nuclear reactor technology
The electricity and energy Minister said that South Africa expects its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor to be removed from the status of care and maintenance by the first quarter next year, or even sooner.
South Africa, once considered a leader in the field of small modular reactors (PBMR), halted research on PBMR in 2010, after spending over 10 billion rand (577 million dollars) and without building a planned demo model.
Kgosientsho RAMOKGOPA, the minister of electricity and energy told a press briefing that "we are far advanced (in) our internal processes" to make the case for lifting the care and maintenance to the PBMR.
Eskom, a state-owned utility, operates the only commercial nuclear power plant on the continent near Cape Town. Egypt is currently building its own nuclear plant. Namibia, Niger, and Ghana, among others, are also exploring the option.
He added, "We see huge opportunities all over the world. The biggest investors in SMRs are the major data centre players."
The South Africa 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, which is expected to be released this week outlines more than 105 Gigawatts in new generation capacity. More than half will be renewable energy, as South Africa aims to reduce its coal dependence.
By 2039, a new nuclear capacity of 5.2 Gigawatts will be available, along with 16 Gigawatts for gas, 34 Gigawatts for wind, and 25 Gigawatts for solar PV.
South Africa is aiming to revitalize its nuclear industry. The IRP suggests that the industrialisation plan would determine whether or not 10 gigawatts worth of new nuclear capacity should be added.
Ramokgopa stated that China, South Korea and the U.S. could be partners with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation in developing small modular reactors.
We don't believe we will run out partners for the PBMR. $1 = 17.3125 rand (Reporting and editing by Wendell Roelf, Sfundo Parakozov, and Louise Heavens).
(source: Reuters)
