Nersa gets flak over approval for another 2 500MW of nuclear power

CIVIL society organisations have expressed disappointment at the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) electricity subcommittee's recommendation to conditionally approve the government's proposal for another 2500MW of nuclear power.

NERSA's subcommittee on Friday recommended a conditional approval with suspensive conditions, mainly citing concerns over affordability.

“The nuclear build programme must be at an affordable pace and scale that the country can afford, because it is not a great option in the long term,” the committee noted.

The subcommittee's recommendation will be taken to the Nersa board which will then make a final decision.

The Koeberg Alert Alliance said the decision was disappointing as Eskom was in R480bn in debt, and cannot afford a new nuclear build.

“No vendor will fund a build without guarantees and neither Eskom nor treasury can provide those.

“Using this concurrence by NERSA

as a reason to proceed with an application for a site licence at Thyspunt is pointless, and in our view it is irrational and wasteful expenditure.”

The KAA said the gazetted fee for a site licence application is R19 million, apart from other expenses.

“Right now there are better things for Eskom to spend that money on (including) safety refresher courses for the power station maintenance staff to help prevent further plant explosions,” the KAA said, citing the recent Medupi explosion.

“In the broader picture, nuclear

power is a dying industry. Internationally, newer technologies including solar, wind and battery storage are displacing old technologies.”

OUTA's Parliamentary and Energy Advisor Liz McDaid said the subcommittee decision raises the problem of having an outdated energy policy.

“OUTA strongly believes this is not affordable, not appropriate and should not be approved.''

OUTA had made a formal submission to NERSA to oppose the determination by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, that

South Africa needs another 2500MW of new nuclear power.

“OUTA will await the NERSA full board decision and the reasons for decision before deciding on a way forward. The South African government has a history of making - or attempting to make - decisions in favour of hugely expensive nuclear builds in deals which seem suspicious... rather than the needs of the country.” In May, Mantashe told Parliament that if Nersa concurs with the determination, the department intends to complete the procurement of 2500MW.