Evans morgan argentina described a site 100 km northwest of buenos aires where a station of 500 megawatts could be installed in 197172. South african attitudes about nuclear power economics research. It has two nuclear reactors, and generates approximately ve percent of the countrys electricity. South africas coalfired power stations carry heavy health costs this article is more than 5 years old in the settlement of masakhane near the duvha plant, residents wear masks to avoid. The south african nuclear sector employs about 2 700 people. Indeed electricity supply is deeply impacting business in south africa, as in the rest of the world. South africa will have six new nuclear power plants by 2030, which will cost between r400 billion and r1 trillion to build, according to a report by reuters. Construction of a demonstration pebble bed modular reactor in south africa has been delayed. The implications of south africas nuclear power programme. Two reactors located at the koeberg nuclear power station accounts for around 5% of south africa s electricity production. South africas total electricity needs and approximately 50% of the. Delays in its implementation, as well as the collapse of ageing power utility eskoms infrastructure, have forced frequent scheduled power outages.
If not run with utmost efficiency, power stations cannot and will not function at capacity leaving communities and industries across the country without power. No nuclear energy option for south africa for now at least. Pages in category nuclear power stations in south africa this category contains only the following page. The benefits and challenges associated with coal in south. The following is a list of electricity generating facilities within south africa that are not operating. All four power stations are important elements of the new build programme on which eskom has embarked to supply south africa s future electricity needs. Eskoms koeberg nuclear power station supplies about 5% of south africas total electricity needs and approximately 50% of the electricity demand of the western cape. The plant has produced enough electricity to power 65,000 homes during the day. Nuclear energy policy for the republic of south africa. The south african government has plans to build another nuclear power station. Yet in 2008, 2015, and 2018, south africa had load shedding, planned rolling backouts where parts of the country are routinely without power on a scheduled basis.
In 2008, nuclear power replaced an estimated 690 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. The implications of south africas nuclear power programme 1. Sa nuclear site set to get green light dec 21 2015 10. We call on the people of south africa to oppose the governments shady nuclear. Sep 09, 2014 south africas coalfired power stations carry heavy health costs this article is more than 5 years old in the settlement of masakhane near the duvha plant, residents wear masks to avoid. Jul 11, 2018 the chernobyl disaster reminded the world of the human and environmental costs of nuclear power accidents. Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1984. South africas electricity needs the expansion of south africas power generating capacity is a necessary condition for economic growth and housing development. Mar 08, 2015 despite the high cost of nuclear power stations, and the obvious fact that south africa cannot afford such an enormous outlay, the departments of energy, public enterprises, and trade and industry.
South africa has two nuclear reactors generating 5% of its electricity at koeberg. Pdf the social shaping of nuclear energy technology in south africa. Koeberg nuclear power station where it is stored onsite at the facility. South africas koeberg nuclear power station, the only nuclear power plant in africa, has been incidentfree in its 34year operation. It is currently the only one on the entire african continent. About 3600mw will be released once all the previously mothballed power stations of camden, grootvlei and komati are back on stream by 2010, though some units are already operational. As for the future, we have to wait and see which other african countries will build nuclear power plants. A power station also referred to as a generating station, power plant, powerhouse or generating plant is an industrial place for the generation of electric power. In south africas case, new nuclear power was meant to come on stream by. All four power stations are important elements of the new build programme on which eskom has embarked to supply south africas future electricity needs. In mexico a plant could be located to the south west of mexico city, according. Dec 20, 2016 just like other energy sources we people use, there can be advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy. Just like other energy sources we people use, there can be advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.
Zuma, the guptas and south africas r1 trillion nuclear plans. Eskoms koeberg nuclear power station supplies about 5 of. It is the only commercial nuclear power station on the african continent and only one of four in the southern hemisphere. Most of this electricity is consumed domestically, but around 12,000 gigawatthours are annually exported to swaziland, botswana, mozambique, lesotho, namibia, zambia, zimbabwe and other southern african development community countries participating in the southern african power pool. Eskom names four new power stations south africa news. The nuclear power plant accident of 11 march 2011 at fukushima in japan caused. South africa is presently the only african country with a commercial nuclear power plant. Construction of koeberg began shortly after the contract with a french consortium was signed in 1976, with the first of its two units starting commercial operation in april 1984. The operating organisation has a system of licensing in which the safety envelope for operation has been agreed with the regulator. South africa will be building a group of new nuclear power stations to add an extra 9 600 mw of nuclear power to the existing approximately 2 000 mw of nuclear power that we currently generate from koeberg nuclear power station near cape town, which is the only nuclear power station. This is because power is imperative for macroeconomic development. Feb 15, 20 the reactor is being built in barakah and is led by a south korean consortium. Nuclear power in south africa south african nuclear energy.
It is estimated that around 70% of the cost of nuclear power comes from the initial construction. Koeberg showcases south africa s successful history of nuclear operations. Sep 02, 2012 united states power plants produce 2,000 metric tons of radioactive waste every year. South africa is the only country in africa with a commercial nuclear power plant. Nuclear power is essential for national progress nuclear africa. Nuclear power has been touted as one of the solutions to meet this ever. Pdf nuclear energy technology adoption by intensive energy. At the moment, nuclear energy is still considered very controversial and a hot issue.
South african reactors to use uranium from former russian nuclear. Two reactors located at the koeberg nuclear power station accounts for around 5% of south africas electricity production. South african government commitment to the future of nuclear energy is strong. United states power plants produce 2,000 metric tons of radioactive waste every year. South africas koeberg nuclear power station has accorded our country the opportunity of acquiring a wide spectrum of skills in plant operation, radiological and. Nuclear power plants are extremely expensive to construct and put into service when compared to other forms of energy generation. Nov 05, 2015 south africa has plans to build new power stations despite many calling for no nuclear energy in the country.
One nuclear power plant has contributed five per cent of. Jun 01, 2017 firstly, there is the big new nuclear option for south africa, to replace the old coalfired power stations that have to be retired as they reach endoflife. South africa is considering the construction of three nuclear power stations on its coastline despite objections from environmentalists. With two reactors, south africas koeberg nuclear power station generates nearly. South africa produces around 229,200 gigawatthours 825,000 tj electricity annually. In south africa s case, new nuclear power was meant to come on stream by 2023, according to the integrated resource plan. According to reuters 2015, south africa will have new nuclear power. In mexico a plant could be located to the southwest of mexico city, according. Jul 24, 2009 south africa is considering the construction of three nuclear power stations on its coastline despite objections from environmentalists. Why is the public so concerned about new nuclear power. The complexity and importance of power stations across south africa is matched only by the reliability and steadfastness required of its interconnected parts.
Scientists and international forums still talk about the balance between the disadvantages of nuclear energy and its pros. South africa is the only country on the african continent that already has a commercial nuclear power plant. South africas koeberg nuclear power station, the only nuclear power plant in africa, has been incidentfree in its 34year operations. Nigeria and kenya both aim to add 4,000 mw of nuclear power to existing relatively low national grid capacity. Five facts that prove south africas nuclear power plan. The truth about nuclear power in sa south africa news. The governments commitment to the future of nuclear energy is strong. Nuclear power in south africa south african nuclear. Dec 05, 2016 south africas electricity needs the expansion of south africas power generating capacity is a necessary condition for economic growth and housing development. Why south africa should not build eight new nuclear power stations. Why south africa should not build eight new nuclear power. Final report findings of the african nuclear study. President zuma highlighted that power cuts were south africas biggest challenge. Apr 28, 2017 no nuclear energy option for south africa for now at least.
They had shaved off one percentage point off growth and contributed to south africas economic contraction in the second quarter of this year. This was because, due to mismanagement and corruption in eskom, the public electricity utility. Scope of energy statistics in south africa and in statistics south africa 2 statistics on reserves or deposits 2. Nuclear energy in south africa, nuclear power, and list of nuclear reactors. South africas new coal power station great for the country. Delays in its implementation, as well as the collapse of ageing power utility eskoms infrastructure, have. Data sources, classifications and statistics table of contents 1. The south african government, like those of china, india and france, is in favour of further investment in nuclear power stations.
It is located 30 km north of cape town, near melkbosstrand on the west coast of south africa. Nuclear power has a large load factor, compared to other power. This is the second of two 6 x 800mw coal fired power stations under construction in south africa. South african government commitment to the future of nuclear energy is strong, but financial constraints apply. Molefe invited the media to explain why the public is negative about nuclear power stations, and asked what the public is afraid of. South africa has two nuclear reactors generating 6 percent of its electricity. It has announced that it plans to build two more nuclear power stations, in an e.
We believe that the higher capital costs may well have compromised south africas sovereign ratings and, therefore, its ability to fund other essential infrastructure and social development programs. Koeberg nuclear power station in cape town, south africa is licensed in terms of processbased licensing. The country currently has africa s sole nuclear plant. South africa accepts nuclear plant ruling, plans to start. The reactor is being built in barakah and is led by a south korean consortium.
This is a list of power stations around the world by countries or regions. South africa nuclear chronology nuclear threat initiative. Introduction the demand for energy continually increases with south africas developing population and economy. Eskoms koeberg nuclear power station supplies about 5% of. Based on some of molefes comments at the media briefing, it seems the utilitys ceo believes that south africans are afraid of nuclear technology.
Jan 02, 2017 this is the second of two 6 x 800mw coal fired power stations under construction in south africa. List of decommissioned power stations in south africa. South africas coalfired power stations carry heavy. Despite the high cost of nuclear power stations, and the obvious fact that south africa cannot afford such an enormous outlay, the departments of energy. If not run with utmost efficiency, power stations cannot and will not function at capacity leaving communities. South africa has plans to build new power stations despite many calling for no nuclear energy in the country. Also operational is 1050mw in peaking power from the two new opencycle gas turbines in atlantis and mossel bay, whose capacity has been doubled to 2100mw to come. Regulation of existing and new nuclear power stations in. It has been operating since 1984 and holds the record for the longest continuous operating eskom unit. Annexure a map of eskom power stations 14 list of figures, maps and tables figure 1. How will south africas new nuclear power stations be paid. Dec 21, 2015 south africa will be building a group of new nuclear power stations to add an extra 9 600 mw of nuclear power to the existing approximately 2 000 mw of nuclear power that we currently generate from koeberg nuclear power station near cape town, which is the only nuclear power station in africa. This was because, due to mismanagement and corruption in eskom, the public electricity utility, south africas power stations were short of coal.
Koeberg nuclear power station is a nuclear power station in south africa. Pages in category power stations in south africa the following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. The chernobyl disaster reminded the world of the human and environmental costs of nuclear power accidents. South africa plans three nuclear power stations south. The plant is formed of two pressurised water reactors pwr which have a capacity of 970mw, offering a combined capacity of 1. If only our government would bite the bullet and construct the same here 9,600 mw of new capacity would sort out a lot of our supply problems. Spent fuel is disposed of at vaalputs radioactive waste disposal facility in the northern cape.
Nuclear power plants generate nearly threefourths of americas cleanair energy. Koeburg nuclear power station koeburg is located about 20 miles from cape town on the west coast of south africa. According to the world nuclear association, an umbrella group for individuals and organizations in the nuclear profession, the use of nuclear power to generate electricity is under serious consideration in 12 african countries. Firstly, there is the big newnuclear option for south africa, to replace the old coalfired power stations that have to be retired as they reach endoflife. May 19, 2015 south africa will have six new nuclear power plants by 2030, which will cost between r400 billion and r1 trillion to build, according to a report by reuters.