South Africa’s government has decided to delay the procurement process for a new nuclear power station to allow for further public consultation, following legal challenges.
According to Reuters, Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa announced the decision on Friday, citing the need for greater public participation.
The procurement process, initially set to add an extra 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power to the country’s grid, faced opposition from the Democratic Alliance (DA) party and two non-governmental organizations.
The DA, now part of the coalition government after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority in May, has been vocal in its opposition to the nuclear expansion.
Ramokgopa acknowledged the concerns and stated that a document in the government gazette, which would have allowed the procurement to proceed, would be withdrawn.
The government plans to rework a report addressing the conditions set by the energy regulator for its support and will consult the public again.
Despite the delay, Ramokgopa emphasized that the government remains committed to expanding nuclear capacity beyond the existing 1,900 MW Koeberg plant near Cape Town.
The delay is estimated to last three to six months.
The decision comes in the context of South Africa’s history with nuclear power, including a controversial 9,600 MW deal with Russia during Jacob Zuma’s presidency, which was blocked by a court challenge in 2017.
Separately, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act into law, laying the groundwork for a competitive electricity market.
