Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
9 July 2024 | 14:20 CAT
2 min read

The new government of national unity is advancing plans to build a new nuclear plant, aiming for treasury approval by next month. Energy and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa informed the Sunday Times that the procurement structure is being finalised, with the project at an advanced stage.

Originally announced in January by the previous government, this initiative is part of a strategic national project to secure energy supply and support economic reconstruction and recovery.

Francesca de Gasparis, Executive Director at The Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute (SAFCEI), expressed concern about this plan in an interview with Radio Islam. “We are quite surprised the GNU is trying to proceed with it. It makes no sense for South Africa and should not be in our energy system,” she said.

According to Gasparis, during our climate and energy crisis and amid significant affordability challenges, no economists recommend nuclear energy as a cost-effective or efficient solution.

“It is not only about the cost. Eskom does not have a good track record with bills; it is not affordable. Eskom can’t keep track of its existing debt, imagine putting a nuclear station on top of that, which costs billions. It doesn’t make sense for electricity users to be saddled with this debt,” she said.

She stated that they are not being consulted adequately. “We are not being given the facts and figures, which often happens in the energy sector, hence all the court cases that we’ve seen over the years,” she added.

Gasparis emphasised that when comparing different energy systems, nuclear energy is not part of the equation. It can’t compete with other options, and this is not a subjective view.

She highlighted that despite the rhetoric around nuclear energy, it is neither clean nor safe. It produces the most radioactive toxic waste, which has never been effectively managed and lasts millions of years. Additionally, it is not a reliable energy source.

“The idea that it’s just always on is not the case. We are being sold a fantasy, quite frankly,” she added.

She expressed concern about Koeberg, Africa’s only nuclear power station, which Gasparis suggests is at the end of its 40-year design life and should be decommissioned. However, Eskom wants to extend its operation for another 20 years. “We are being asked, without the safety repairs being done, to just accept another 20 years. I feel the government planning needs a huge overhaul. We need to see decisions being made with the thought of the impact on the people living around,” she said.

Gasparis expressed a strong sentiment that we ought to be achieving far more than we currently are.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Francesca de Gasparis, SAFCEI Executive Director, here.