The Ministry of Electricity has temporarily paused its plans to procure 2.5 GW of nuclear generation capacity, following legal challenges and concerns over insufficient public consultation.
The procurement plan, initially published in 2023, outlined the government's intention to secure clean, cost-effective baseload energy through nuclear power. However, the process was halted after an application was filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and two non-governmental organizations, the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg.
On Friday, August 16, Minister of Energy and Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa , announced the deferral of the nuclear procurement process, citing the need for more thorough public engagement.
While solar and wind energy are valuable, they come with significant environmental costs. The manufacturing of solar panels and the necessary battery storage is resource-intensive, and both require vast amounts of land to generate power at scale, Odendaal says.
In contrast, nuclear energy, although initially costly to construct, is the most affordable source of power in South Africa over the long term. The carbon footprint is largely confined to the construction phase, like any large-scale development, and a nuclear plant can operate efficiently for 30 to 50 years.
Odendaal highlighted Koeberg as a prime example of nuclear powers success, calling it the best-run and most successful power station in the world.
In a statement, the ministry assured that it would consult extensively with industry experts in preparing its next submission to the energy regulator. Nuclear energy is, and will continue to be, a vital part of South Africas energy strategy, providing a low-carbon, reliable source of electricity that supports both energy security and climate objectives.
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