In South Africa, nuclear power is primarily from the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, and it accounts for about 4% of the electricity supply.
In South Africa, nuclear power is primarily from the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, and it accounts for about 4% of the electricity supply. The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 proposed the extension of the lifespan of existing nuclear facilities (i.e., the Koeberg NPP) and exploring the use of small modular reactors to provide a modular approach to the procurement of new nuclear generation capacity.
In December 2023, the Department of Mineral Resources had planned to procure about 2500 MW of new nuclear capacity. The procurement process was part of the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) alongside the continued operation of the existing Koeberg nuclear power plant. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be launched ahead of the finalization of the IRP 2023, and the expectation is that the first unit of the new 2500 MW NPP will be commissioned by 2032/33.
The DMRE issued IRP 2023 in January 2024 and aims to secure the electricity supply through a balanced approach between supply and demand, considering environmental concerns and overall costs. The IRP 2023, although only a draft, contemplates four possible scenarios for the procurement of energy in the period 2031-2050, and one of these pathways proposes the implementation of a new nuclear build programme for a total of 14,500 MW. At the moment, South Africa can afford 2500 MW to come online in the period between 2031 and 2035 and an additional 1925 MW to come online between 2036 and 2040. About 10 0075 MW of new nuclear generation capacity is expected to come online for the period 2041-2050.
The development of new nuclear capacity is critical at this moment, as it will contribute to the country’s energy needs and support National Development Contributions. The South African government is working towards collaborating with international partners. With a careful consideration of economic and environmental factors, it will be essential to realize the full potential of nuclear energy in South Africa. However, three of the four development pathways outlined in the IRP2023 suggest that no new nuclear energy should be procured. It is unclear how these hypothetical pathways will contribute to an updated target energy mix for South Africa. The Minister of Electricity, however, has stressed that all prerequisites for obtaining nuclear energy have been fulfilled, and that the proposed procurement procedure adheres to current regulatory standards.
This post was submitted by Climate Scorecard South Africa Country Manager, Rugare Zhou.
Learning More Resources
- https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-o-s/south-africa
- https://www.necsa.co.za/service/safari-1/
- Ognan Williams, Nuclear Energy in South Africa: An Opportunity for Greater Energy Efficiency and Energy Security, Monash University, South Africa, Eras Journal | Volume 16 | Number 2 http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/eras/
- https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/latest-plans-increase-nuclear-energy-south-africa