Nuclear power in South Africa

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Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Koebergnps.jpg
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station

South Africa is the only country in Africa with a commercial nuclear power plant. [1]

Contents

Two reactors located at the Koeberg nuclear power station accounts for around 5% of South Africa's electricity production. [2] Spent fuel is disposed of at Vaalputs Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility in the Northern Cape.

The SAFARI-1 tank in pool [3] research reactor is located at the Pelindaba nuclear research centre in Gauteng.

New build

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Nuclear power plants in South Africa
Location dot red.svg  Active plants
Location dot blue.svg  Sites of potential plants

Plans for new nuclear power have been scaled back, and new build is now considered unlikely before 2030.

The 2010 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) envisaged building 9,600 MWe of new nuclear power capacity by building between six and eight new nuclear reactors by 2030, which would cost about R1 trillion. [4] [5]

In 2016, an updated draft IRP was published which set a much lower and slower nuclear target, due to lower demand projections and increased capital cost. This updated IRP envisaged that the first new nuclear power plant would only need to be online by 2041. [2]

South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) plans a 20 year life-extension for Koeberg to 2044, and a delayed nuclear new build programme due to the "marginal cost of [nuclear] generation, in comparison to other options" with a scenario that may build new capacity after 2030.

In December 2023, the government announced it would invite nuclear vendor bids for 2500 MW of nuclear energy by 2032. [6]

Criticism

There was much concern about the cost of the endeavour, as well as the probability for corruption, due to the lack of transparency in the procurement processes and the disregard of civic society. [7] [8] President at the time Jacob Zuma nevertheless pushed ahead with plans to secure nuclear power. [9]

Legality

Following the Public Protector's "State of Capture" report, which implicated him and Jacob Zuma in the peddling of state patronage, Brian Molefe resigned from his position as executive chief of Eskom on 1 January 2017. However, analysts noted that corruption at Eskom was deep-rooted and that Molefe's resignation would not resolve the nuclear question. [10] In April 2017, Eskom requested that the Treasury department waive procurement regulations for the new nuclear plants, claiming that Eskom "had done a lot of the work prior" and that these efforts were adequate. The Democratic Alliance objected on the grounds that this would embark the state on its "single biggest public procurement without fully assessing associated risks and consequences for SA’s economy". [9]

On 26 April 2017, following a legal application by Earthlife Africa and the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, the Western Cape High Court declared that the South African government's new nuclear procurement processes had been unlawful because they had not followed due processes. The court noted that the National Energy Regulator, Parliament, and the Energy Minister must all be involved in the process. All of the subsequent existing contracts with Russia, the US, and South Korea were therefore found to be void. [11] [12] [13]

Costs

The R1 trillion cost of the proposed new nuclear project played a part in ratings downgrades by international credit ratings agencies. [9]

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who opposed new nuclear installations on the grounds of the steep cost, was replaced by Malusi Gigaba in March, 2017. [14] Gigaba is responsible for filling the vacancy of chief procurement officer at the Treasury, which would make decisions about procurement processes regarding the new nuclear project. [9]

Life extension of Koeberg

In January 2018, Eskom's acting Chief Financial Officer stated that the company cannot afford a new nuclear build, following a 34% drop in interim profits due to declining sales and increasing financing costs. The government stated it will proceed with the plan but more slowly. [15] The draft 2018 IRP does not call for new nuclear power, partly due to declining electricity demand, forecast 30% lower than in the previous IRP. [16]

South Africa's 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) plans a 20 year life-extension for Koeberg to 2044, and a delayed nuclear new build programme due to the "marginal cost of [nuclear] generation, in comparison to other options" with a scenario that may build new capacity after 2030. Small modular reactors may become an attractive option, dependent on earlier demonstration elsewhere in the world. [17]

Small modular reactors

Small modular reactors in the form of the pebble bed reactor design was invested in by the South African government; one such project was the Pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR). [18] In February 2010, the South African government announced that it had stopped funding the development of the pebble bed modular reactor after investing 80% of the R 9.24 billion (2010) (equivalent to R14.28 billionor US$ 1.08 billion in 2018) [19] . [20] Personnel from the defunct PBMR took their expertise to X-energy, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation and the Pretoria-based Stratek Global. [21]

Nuclear expertise in South Africa

AREVA built the twin units of the Koeberg nuclear power plant. In 2001, AREVA NP ( renamed Framatome in 2018 ) bought a 45% stake in LESEDI Nuclear Services, followed by a further 6% stake in 2006. Today Framatome is a majority shareholder in Lesedi Nuclear Services.

In 2016, the IAEA Concluded a Long Term Operational Safety Review at South Africa’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant. The Pre-SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation) review mission was requested by the Government of South Africa’s Department of Energy. "A SALTO peer review is a comprehensive safety review addressing strategy and key elements for the safe Long Term Operation of nuclear power plants".

Other Nuclear Energy news and more reading:

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koeberg Nuclear Power Station</span> Nuclear power station in South Africa

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is a nuclear power station in South Africa. It is currently the only one on the entire African continent. It is located 30 km north of Cape Town, near Melkbosstrand on the west coast of South Africa. Koeberg is owned and operated by the country's only national electricity supplier, Eskom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebble bed modular reactor</span> South African nuclear reactor design

The Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) is a particular design of pebble bed reactor developed by South African company PBMR (Pty) Ltd from 1994 until 2009. PBMR facilities include gas turbine and heat transfer labs at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University, and at Pelindaba, a high pressure and temperature helium test rig, as well as a prototype fuel fabrication plant. A planned test reactor at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station was not built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Areva</span> Defunct French nuclear and renewable energy provider

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Eskom Hld SOC Ltd or Eskom (Afrikaans: Elektrisiteitsvoorsieningskommissie) is a South African electricity public utility. Eskom was established in 1923 as the Electricity Supply Commission (ESCOM). Eskom represents South Africa in the Southern African Power Pool. The utility is the largest producer of electricity in Africa, and was among the top utilities in the world in terms of generation capacity and sales. It is the largest of South Africa's state owned enterprises. Eskom operates a number of notable power stations, including Matimba Power Station and Medupi Power Station in Lephalale, Kusile Power Station in Witbank, Kendal Power Station, and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape Province, the only nuclear power plant in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earthlife Africa</span> South African environmental organization

Earthlife Africa is a South African environmental and anti-nuclear organisation founded in August 1988, in Johannesburg. Initially conceived of as a South African version of Greenpeace, the group began by playing a radical, anti-apartheid, activist role. ELA is arguably now more of a reformist lobby or pressure group. Considered by some to be a key voice in the emerging environmental justice movement, Earthlife Africa has been criticised for being too radical, and by others for "working with traditional conservation movements" in furthering the environmental struggle.

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South Africa has a large energy sector, being the third-largest economy in Africa. The country consumed 227 TWh of electricity in 2018. The vast majority of South Africa's electricity was produced from coal, with the fuel responsible for 88% of production in 2017. South Africa is the 7th largest coal producer in the world. As of July 2018, South Africa had a coal power generation capacity of 39 gigawatts (GW). South Africa is the world's 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases. South Africa is planning to shift away from coal in the electricity sector and the country produces the most solar and wind energy by terawatt-hours in Africa. The country aims to decommission 34 GW of coal-fired power capacity by 2050. It also aims to build at least 20 GW of renewable power generation capacity by 2030. South Africa aims to generate 77,834 megawatts (MW) of electricity by 2030, with new capacity coming significantly from renewable sources to meet emission reduction targets. Through its goals stated in the Integrated Resource Plan, it announced the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme, which aims to increase renewable power generation through private sector investment.

Duynefontein is a proposed site for new nuclear power station. It is a coastal site next to and just north of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African energy crisis</span> Widespread national level rolling blackouts

The South African energy crisis or load shedding is an ongoing period of widespread national blackouts of electricity supply. It began in the later months of 2007 towards the end of Thabo Mbeki's second term as president, and continues to the present. The South African government-owned national power utility, and primary power generator, Eskom, and various parliamentarians attributed these rolling blackouts to insufficient generation capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme</span> South African government electricity generation initiative

The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) is an initiative by the South African government aimed at increasing electricity capacity through private sector investment in solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar, onshore wind power, small hydro, landfill gas, biomass, and biogas. As of 2023, a total of 123 projects have been awarded to the private sector. Private sector investment totalling R256 billion has been committed to the REIPPPP. Four of the six Bid Windows have come online, totalling 6200 MW of installed capacity.

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) is a plan aimed at estimating South Africa's electricity demand. It takes into account how the demand of electricity will be met and the expense of such a demand. The plan refers to electricity generation and expansion programmes.

References

  1. ↑ Hinshaw, Drew. "Africa looks to nuclear power". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Nuclear Power in South Africa" . Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Vlok, JWH. "REACTOR OPERATIONS AT SAFARI-1" (PDF). Manager: Reactor Operations SAFARI-1 Research Reactor NECSA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  4. ↑ "Anti nuclear activist sheds light on SA, Russia deal". eNCA. 2015-08-23. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  5. ↑ Lionel Faull (23 March 2012). "South Africa's nightmare nuclear bill". Mail & Guardian Online. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "South Africa to seek bids for new nuclear power station".
  7. ↑ "South Africa slows nuclear power expansion plans". Reuters. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Ensor, Linda (21 April 2017). "Power utility Eskom will seek waivers on nuclear rules". BusinessDay. South Africa. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Ensor, Linda (2017-04-21). "Power utility Eskom will seek waivers on nuclear rules". Business Day. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  10. ↑ Pather, Ra'eesa (2016-11-11). "Brian Molefe resigns from Eskom". The M&G Online. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  11. ↑ "Western Cape High Court declared that government's nuclear procurement processes to date have been unlawful". omny.fm. 2017-04-26. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  12. ↑ "Nuclear deal decision: Parliamentary process not followed". www.enca.com. 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  13. ↑ Ensor, Linda (2017-04-26). "Back to square one for Eskom as judge sets nuclear decisions aside". Business Day. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
  14. ↑ "South Africa's controversial nuclear power plans". Deutsche Welle. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  15. ↑ "South Africa's nuclear plans under reconsideration". Nuclear Engineering International. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  16. ↑ "Nuclear remains static under South African plan". World Nuclear News. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "Nuclear remains in South Africa's energy plans". World Nuclear News. 18 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  18. ↑ Kemm, Dr Kelvin. "SA's nuclear pebble bed reactor could get second chance". Business. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  19. ↑ South Africa – Consumer price index, International Monetary Fund, International Financial Statistics and data files.[ dubious – discuss ]
  20. ↑ "World Nuclear Association - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  21. ↑ "HTMR-100 team aim for pebble bed SMR in South Africa : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
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