Cabinet has confirmed that the procurement of new nuclear power plants will fall to Eskom and that it will also own the facilities, according to a statement on its meeting this week.

“Cabinet designated Eskom as the owner operator and procurer for nuclear power plants in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Policy of 2008,” the statement said.

It added that Eskom has operated the Nuclear Energy Policy safely for more than 30 yeas and has been compiling environmental impact date on new nuclear plants since 2007.

Cabinet, which met over two days this week, also approved the designation of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation as the owner and operator of a planned multi-purpose reactor and nuclear fuel cycle.

Lastly, it said, the department of energy will serve as the co-ordinator of the nuclear build programme which is aimed at adding 9,600 kilowatts to the national energy grid.

The Cabinet announcement comes a day after the release of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s report “State of Capture”. It contains damning findings regarding Eskom, including that the utility seemingly went to great lengths to bolster the Gupta-family’s Tegeta mining business.

Eskom CEO Brian Molefe, whom Madonsela found had a “cosy relationship” with the politically connected family on Thursday offered to resign should Eskom be found to have acted improperly towards long-time coal supplier Glencore. Madonsela’s report suggests it was frozen out in favour of Tegeta, which secured big advance payments from Eskom.

The decision to allow Eskom to head the procurement drive was first announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan last week in his medium-term budget policy statement.

The document however went on to dispute Molefe’s insistence that nuclear was the only viable option to boost South Africa’s energy supply as renewable energy remained too unreliable to meet baseload requirements.

This suggests that there could more strife between Gordhan and Molefe who clashed openly recently about the utility’s payments to Tegeta.

South Africa Today – South Africa News