South Africa has sanctioned a plan for the country to procure nearly around 9,600 megawatts of nuclear-generated power.
In a Government Gazette statement, dated Dec. 21, the Minister of Energy and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa said, Electricity produced from the new generation capacity shall be procured through tendering procedures which are fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
The statement bears signature of the former Energy Minister Ben Martins with a date stamp of November 2013.
Initially, President Jacob Zuma announced plans in February 2014 to add 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power to the national grid in a move to address energy shortages in Africas most-industrialized economy. The government has not revealed the expected cost as the contracts are still being negotiated, however it is estimated to range from $37 billion to $100 billion. During its Dec. 9 meet, the Cabinet approved the start of the nuclear-energy procurement program.
The government is of the opinion that the country is in need of more atomic power to diversify its energy mix and meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, said Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson in September.
Following the approval, the first reactor would likely come online in 2023. Areva SA, EDF SA, Toshiba Corp.s Westinghouse Electric Corp., China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corp., Rosatom Corp. and Korea Electric Power Corp. have expressed interest in building the new nuclear power plants.
According to the statement, the atomic power may only be sold to Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., the countrys state-owned producer, or any successor entity to be designated by the minister of energy as buyer, and the electricity must be purchased from the special-purpose vehicle set up for the purpose of developing the nuclear program.
In a Government Gazette statement, dated Dec. 21, the Minister of Energy and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa said, Electricity produced from the new generation capacity shall be procured through tendering procedures which are fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective.
The statement bears signature of the former Energy Minister Ben Martins with a date stamp of November 2013.
Initially, President Jacob Zuma announced plans in February 2014 to add 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power to the national grid in a move to address energy shortages in Africas most-industrialized economy. The government has not revealed the expected cost as the contracts are still being negotiated, however it is estimated to range from $37 billion to $100 billion. During its Dec. 9 meet, the Cabinet approved the start of the nuclear-energy procurement program.
The government is of the opinion that the country is in need of more atomic power to diversify its energy mix and meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, said Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson in September.
Following the approval, the first reactor would likely come online in 2023. Areva SA, EDF SA, Toshiba Corp.s Westinghouse Electric Corp., China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Corp., Rosatom Corp. and Korea Electric Power Corp. have expressed interest in building the new nuclear power plants.
According to the statement, the atomic power may only be sold to Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., the countrys state-owned producer, or any successor entity to be designated by the minister of energy as buyer, and the electricity must be purchased from the special-purpose vehicle set up for the purpose of developing the nuclear program.